Section: Module 2: Lesson 3: Identifying the comorbidities of substance use and medical and mental disorders | Substance Use and Public Health | NextGenU.org

  • Student Learning Outcomes:
    Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
    • Examine the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health disorders.
    •  Examine substance use and associated health conditions that are feature throughout the lifespan including HIV, diabetes, hepatitis, depression, and psychosis.
    • Examine special reproductive health issues for women in relation to substance use, comorbidity, and pharmacological treatment.

    • Required Learning Resources
    • Download the document in the highlighted text and read the entire document. (25 minutes)

      European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction - 2016

    • Read the content under the heading "Discussion". (25 minutes)

      NCBI2017

    • Read the entire webpage.  (9 minutes)

      CCenters for Disease Control and Prevention2022

    • SLOs Addressed:

      • Differentiate among the main categories of substance use disorder behaviors

      • Explore commonly used substance use disorder screening instruments/tools

      • Correlate the social determinants of health to the risk of individual and group development and sustenance of substance use disorders

      • Analyze the factors that can contribute positively to individual and group resilience to substance use

      • Examine the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health disorders

      • Examine substance use and associated health conditions throughout the lifespan

      • Examine special reproductive health issues for women in relation to substance use, comorbidity, and pharmacological treatment

      General Instructions:

      In this activity, you will develop a case study that demonstrates your understanding of substance use disorder assessment, social determinants, and comorbidities.

      Step 1: Prepare

      1. Familiarize yourself with at least three standardized screening tools for substance use disorders (e.g., AUDIT, DAST, CAGE, ASSIST).

      2. Research the social determinants of health that influence substance use risk and resilience.

      3. Study common comorbidities of substance use disorders with mental and physical health conditions.

      Step 2: Develop a Case Study

      Develop a comprehensive case study (500-750 words) that includes:

      1. Patient Profile: Create a fictional patient with a substance use disorder, including demographic information, social context, personal history, and presenting symptoms.

      2. Assessment Process: Detail how healthcare providers would assess this patient, including:

        • Identify the substance use disorder and its symptoms 

        • Selection and application of appropriate screening instruments/tools

        • Diagnostic criteria being applied (DSM-5 or ICD-11)

        • Possible challenges in the assessment process

      3. Social Determinants Analysis: 

        • Analyze how social determinants of health may have influenced:

          1. The development and sustenance of the substance use disorder

          2. Access to care and treatment options

        • Identify specific factors that could contribute positively to the individual's resilience to substance use

      4. Comorbidity Examination: Identify and explain:

        • Co-occurring mental health disorders and their relationship with the substance use disorder

        • Associated health conditions that are present throughout the lifespan

      5. Treatment Recommendations: Based on your comprehensive assessment, provide evidence-based recommendations for this patient's care.

      Step 3: Share and Submit

      1. Submit the completed case study to the assignment dropbox.

      2. Ensure your case study follows APA 7th edition formatting for citations and references.

    • quiz icon
      Quiz: Module 2

      To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the attempt quiz button to view the case studies and respond to the questions.

      TO PASS THIS QUIZ YOU MUST OBTAIN A SCORE OF 80%.

      Not available unless: The activity Quiz: Module 1 is marked complete
    • Recommended Additional Readings
    • Read from the heading "Part 1: The Connection Between Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness," up to the end of "Part 3: The Connection Between Substance Use Disorders and HIV". (21 minutes)

      National Institute on Drug Abuse - 2018