Behavioral Health Court Addresses Co-Occurring Disorders

Behavioral Health Court takes a harm reduction approach to substance use among participants with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. BHC recognizes that substance abuse often compromises the safety, wellbeing, and mental health of our clients, and we encourage clients, through a system of incentives and sanctions, to move towards abstaining from problematic drug and alcohol use so that they may achieve their goals and successfully exit the criminal justice system.

The following literature review compiles much of the best research on the topic of co-occurring disorders. This research serves as the basis for BHC’s work with individuals who experience both serious mental illness and substance abuse.