With almost 100 people in attendance, we co-hosted the Concurrent Disorders Virtual Summit in early February 2026 with Homewood Research Institute (HRI). Insights from participants are helping improve integrated care for people living with concurrent mental health and substance use disorders. In Canada, the term ‘concurrent disorders’ is defined as the presence of at least one substance use disorder (SUD) and at least one non-SUD mental disorder, which often can occur alongside physical health conditions and socioeconomic disadvantages.
Participants were broken into small groups who worked to:
- identify key gaps in care that could be addressed through treatment standards and clinical guidelines;
- determine which actions could be implemented most quickly and with the greatest impact; and
- explore immediate steps to advance measurement-based care (MBC) nationally, the role of champions in moving this work forward, and the tools, resources and supports needed to sustain this work.
This summit built on the Concurrent Disorders Think Tank held in December 2024. The Think Tank’s summary report revealed treatment standards and MBC as top priorities for improving outcomes for people living with concurrent disorders.
The summit was funded in part by Cowan, Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
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Key conversations lead to action:
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Improving health and wellbeing:
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Guidance, Tools and Resources
CCSA produces research-based publications, tools, and resources to support evidence-based decision-making on substance use health issues. Select your area of interest from the six categories below:
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Substances
Delve into key resources on commonly used substances, such as alcohol, cannabis, opioids, stimulants and psychedelics. Learn about their effects, usage patterns, associated health and social consequences, and harm reduction considerations
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Personal and Societal Impacts
Get insights on the personal and societal impacts of substance use and addiction , including gambling and impaired driving, and their effects on health, safety, and social well-being. Learn about effective prevention and harm-reduction strategies in various sectors.
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Communities
Communities share common interests, values or goals, and interact with one another to build relationships and help networks. These materials support more inclusive, equitable, and community-informed responses to substance use and addiction. Dive into resources highlighting people with lived and living experience, stigma, sex- and gender-based analysis, Indigenous Peoples, and housing.
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Treatment and Prevention
Explore medical, psychological, and social approaches aimed at helping individuals avoid or recover from substance use disorders. Get the facts on public health topics and learn about collaborative efforts to reduce stigma and promote more equitable, inclusive responses to substance use.
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Youth
Learn about factors influencing substance use in young people, including childhood trauma and brain development, and get tools to support adult allies in leading meaningful, evidence-informed conversations with youth. Content promotes early prevention, harm reduction and supportive environments for youth up to age 25.
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Substance Use and the Workplace
Substance use has a significant impact on the workplace, potentially affecting safety, productivity and employee well-being. Explore research on substance use in various industries. Resources support workplace leaders in building more supportive, stigma-free environments through practical strategies, improved approaches and initiative-taking education.
