Washington State University

Our goal is to work with our community partners to develop, test, and disseminate strength-based solutions to improve the lives of individuals living with substance use disorders and mental illness. 

More than 125,000 people die every year in the U.S as a direct result of alcohol and drug use. Shockingly, only 15% of people with alcohol and drug problems ever receive treatment. 

Some groups are much more likely to suffer from substance use problems. New solutions are needed to reduce disparities in drug and alcohol use problems. 

An estimated 10.4 million American adults have a serious mental illness. Serious mental illness (SMI) is a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that creates serious functional impairment, which interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. Individuals with serious mental health issues have a life expectancy that is 10-25 years shorter than the general population. Effective interventions are needed to improve the lives of people living with serious mental health problems.