Co-existing problems (CEP) are simultaneous occurrence of both mental illness and substance use problems in an individual and this combination of problems can also be refer to as duel diagnosis. The duel diagnosis has a drastic effect on an individual’s functional well-being compared to mental disorder or substance use alone. People with duel diagnosis are quiet commonly seen seeking assistance from health services. Research clearly pointed out that the service users (SU)s with psychiatric disorders are more likely to use substances compared to general population. On the other hand, severe substance use can be toxic to human brain cells and may worsen psychotic symptoms in SUs. The results from a nation-wide survey indicate that almost half of the people admitted to acute mental health inpatient units also have substance use problems.
