Concurrent substance-related disorders and mental illness: the North American experience.

Ingredients of the evolving North American experience in addressing the management of patients with concurrent substance-related disorders and mental illness are presented. This experience as well as select data from Europe and Australia indicate a growing empirically-based consensus to provide an integrated approach to the care of these patients. It also highlights the necessity to conduct local surveys of needs and resources and adapt the published clinical experience to the local system of care, resources and culture.