Co-occurring Disorder Outpatient Assessment and Treatment Program

Co-occurring disorders is a term used for individuals who have both a mental health diagnosis and substance use issues. The term dual diagnosis is also used to describe someone with mental health and substance use issues.

The co-occurring disorder program is designed to help youth with a primary mental health diagnosis like depression, anxiety or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who are using drugs or alcohol (including nicotine). The adolescent’s substance use may be experimental, occasional or is becoming a cause for concern for the child, provider, parent or caregiver.

Adolescents who have a substance use disorder but do not have a mental health diagnosis are not appropriate for this program. If we determine this is a substance use issue only during our consultation, we will refer your child to a substance use disorder provider.

Services start with a diagnostic evaluation to determine your child’s mental health diagnosis and screen for level of substance use. Based on the diagnostic evaluation, we may recommend that your child participate in a range of services including:

• Individual therapy focusing on short-term, cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy addresses alternative coping mechanisms instead of using substances.
• Individual parent training using the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) program. Through this program:
  
  • Families learn skills to help move their youth with substance use issues toward treatment.
  • Treatment may include adolescents and their parents or caregivers.
• Psychiatric consultation regarding medicine and medicine management.
• Coordination with primary care and other community providers.
• Referrals to community providers for additional treatment options.

Substance use information is protected for youth over the age of 13. The substance use professional cannot provide any confidential patient information to a parent or caregiver without patient consent if the patient is 13 and older. However, without youth consent, the parent or caregiver is allowed to talk to the substance use professional who can offer general information and provide resources.

Seattle Children’s contracts with most insurance plans, including Apple Health (Medicaid) and their managed care plans (Molina, Coordinated Care, CHPW, Wellpoint and United Community).

Please contact your insurance company directly for questions about your deductible or co-pays.

You can ask your teen’s primary care provider to make a referral to the program by faxing in a referral and notes to 206-985-3196.

If your teen is seen in a Seattle Children’s medical specialty clinic, your medical provider can submit a referral.

• Recovery Helpline 866-789-1511
  hca.wa.gov/assets/program/fact-sheet-washington-recovery-helpline.pdf
• Teen Link 866-833-6546
• Washington State Directory of Certified Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services
  hca.wa.gov/assets/free-or-low-cost/directory-certified-behavioral-health-agencies.pdf