Issue: In addition to their psychiatric disabilities, over half of the individuals in the public mental health system also have a co-occurring addiction disorder, while still others have a co-occurring developmental disability/mental retardation. Unfortunately, the present parallel systems of care provide little-to-no coordination in treating these individuals, often times denying responsibility for particular individuals with such co-occurring disorders.

Action: New York must create a more integrated system of treatment, which is recognized as an evidence-based best practice. Current regulations and discreet funding streams must be changed to accomplish this goal. Budgetary and regulatory barriers that hamper the coordination of care must be broken down. In addition, a dual licensure certification process should be considered to allow for greater opportunity to create integrated treatment programs and work with colleges to create a dual certification mental health/addictions disorders degree track in New York (much like that which has been successfully implemented in Connecticut).