Should You Talk to 

Someone About a 

Drug, Alcohol, or 

Mental Health 

Problem?

Substance use and 

mental health problems 

are treatable, and help 

is available.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

www.samhsa.gov
Many people struggle with both a 

substance use and a mental disorder. 

These questions can help you decide 

whether you need help with substance 

use, a mental health issue, or both. For 

people who suffer from both, receiving 

treatment for both is important for getting 

better. Treatment works: Recovery starts 

with understanding that you may have one 

or both of these problems.

❏ Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt 

down, depressed, or hopeless?

❏ Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things?

❏ In the past year, have you had significant problems with insomnia, bad 

dreams, or falling asleep during the 

day?

❏ In the past year, have you thought 

about ending your life or had thoughts 

about suicide?*

*If you have had thoughts of not wanting 

to live, or harming yourself or anyone else, 

talk to someone immediately or call 

1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or 

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) NOW..
❏ In the past year, did you have a hard 

time paying attention at school, work, 

or home?

❏ Have you ever felt you should cut down 

on your drinking or drug use (use less 

alcohol or drugs)? 

❏ Have people annoyed (irritated, angered, 

etc.) you by criticizing your drinking or 

drug use?

❏ Have you ever felt bad or guilty about 

drinking or drug use?

❏ Have you ever taken a drink or a drug 

first thing in the morning (an eyeopener) to steady your nerves or get rid 

of a hangover?

In the past, have you ever:

❏ (for men) had 5 or more drinks in a day?

❏ (for women or anyone over age 65) had 

4 or more drinks in a day?

❏ used recreational or prescription drugs 

to get high?

Unless you answered “never” to all of 

the above questions, talk to your doctor, 

a nurse, or a counselor about the details. 

They can help you decide what to do next. 

They may also help you find more information and resources. Look on the back of 

this brochure for additional ways to get 

help.
Resources

For information on treatment for 

co-occurring mental and substance 

use disorders, go to 

http://www.coce.samhsa.gov or 

http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment/.

To find a nearby drug and/or alcohol 

treatment clinic, call (800) 662-HELP 

(4357) (English and Español) or 

(800) 487-4889 (TDD) or go online to:

http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment.

You can also find help in the yellow 

pages under “Alcohol Abuse,” “Drug 

Abuse,” or “Mental Health Services,” 

or in the government (blue) pages 

of the phone book under your local 

health department.

Some of these clinics can provide 

treatment for both substance use and 

mental health disorders.

A better, healthier life 

may be closer than

you think.

This consumer brochure was created to accompany the publication Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons With 

Co-Occurring Disorders, #42 in CSAT’s Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) series. The TIP series and its affiliated 

products are available free from SAMHSA’s Health Information 

Network (SHIN). Call 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727) 

(English and Español) or go to http://www.samhsa.gov/shin.

HHS Publication No. [SMA] 10-4585 Printed 2010