Managing co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders as separate entities can be frustrating and ineffective for both the patients and the providers. This presentation will describe the importance of understanding how mental illness and substance use disorders co-exist and will also empower providers to address these issues in a thoughtful manner that is also evidence-based. Specific focus will be on utilizing Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in this population and the potential risks of utilizing multiple medications.

On a more specific level, attendees will leave this session able to:

1. Show how symptoms of a substance use disorder can mimic a primary mental illness; and,

2. Describe different approaches to managing mental illness in a population with substance use disorders.