The Intersection Between Substance Use and Mental Illness

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a mental health condition that involves the overuse and misuse of substances, including alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications. In 2023, 17.1% of Americans (nearly 1 in 5) over the age of 12 experienced an SUD in the past year. In primary care settings, this number is elevated, with 20-25% of patients in the general primary care population having an SUD. For young adults at primary care visits, it’s closer to 30-40%. Primary care patients with trauma histories have the highest SUD rate, at 40-50%.

Why do patients in primary care settings have higher incidences of SUDs? It’s partially because SUDs contribute directly to cancers, liver disease, respiratory disease, and infectious disease, and they are associated with cardiometabolic disease, depression, and chronic pain. All of these conditions are reasons that someone would visit with a primary care provider (PCP) for support!

Despite these higher rates, SUDs are notoriously underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care settings. One survey found that 43% of patients with SUDs were not diagnosed by their PCP. Unsurprisingly, this led to only 10.3% of SUD patients over 12 receiving any treatment for their condition in 2019. It doesn’t help that less than 20% of physicians surveyed by AAFP feel very prepared to identify and address SUDs in their patient panel – and this isn’t the only barrier that PCPs face with SUD care.

Family medicine doctors are in the top five specialties experiencing the highest burnout levels. This is mostly due to a physician shortage, with fewer doctors entering primary care, and a high administrative burden, which can consume any time a provider has left in the day. If a PCP manages to screen for substance use during a primary care visit and gets a positive result, the process of…

  • conducting an intervention
  • identifying treatment resources
  • connecting your patient with referrals
  • following up to ensure they’ve gotten the help they need

…is a difficult process to balance on top of an overwhelming workload. Luckily, there’s now a statewide program in place to help Virginia PCPs manage the care of adult patients with SUDs – HealthHaven Recovery!

How HealthHaven Recovery Can Help Virginia PCPs

For Virginia PCPs who see adult patients with SUDs, HealthHaven Recovery offers:

Here’s what you need to know!

The Adult Psychiatric Access Line (APAL)

APAL is a project of HealthHaven Recovery that offers substance use/mental health consultation and care navigation for Virginia primary care providers (PCPs) concerning adult patients (18 or older) with substance use concerns. APAL is available statewide, and there is no cost to PCPs or their patients for services. You will also get a response within 30 minutes when you call, which means fast and free support for your patients!

To connect with APAL, call 1-888-371-8627 and press 3 to speak with:

  • Addiction medicine specialists
  • Adult psychiatrists
  • Licensed mental health professionals
  • Care navigators who connect your patients to substance use, mental health, and other vital resources in their area

Provider Education

HealthHaven Recovery hosts low-cost CME trainings focused on topics in adult mental health and substance use conditions. These trainings are adapted to fit into your busy schedule, so you can continue to support patients in your day-to-day practice while elevating your approach.

Our current core offering is The REACH Institute: Adult Behavioral Health in Primary Care (ABH). REACH ABH empowers Virginia PCPs to gain skills and confidence in assessing, managing, and treating adult mental health and substance use conditions encountered in daily practice. This training will strengthen your understanding of common adult mental health concerns and provide critical tools and resources.

Below are links to help you learn more about and connect with HealthHaven Recovery’s resources. If you have additional questions about the program, you can contact us here!