25% Of Low-Income Adults In Los Angeles Have Depression; High Incidence Of Co-Occurring Substance Abuse Noted

About 25% of low-income adults in under-resourced communities in Los Angeles County, California screened positive for depression. Among those who screened positive for depression, more than half (51%) had a substance abuse history, as defined by substance abuse/dependence diagnosis or receipt of substance abuse services in the previous six months. The screening was part of an initiative called Community Partners in Care (CPIC), which provided depression screening in a variety of safety-net health care, mental health, and social service settings. About 23% of people screened at substance abuse treatment organizations had co-occurring depression. About 28 . . .