The general consequences of alcohol and street drug abuse among people with schizophrenia are identical to the general population. Which include impaired family and interpersonal relations, job loss, loss of housing, financial debt, medical problems, and arrests and jailing.

In addition,

• Individuals with schizophrenia who are also substance abusers have more symptoms: - More frequent violent episodes - Higher use of emergency psychiatric services - Lower compliance with antipsychotic medication - Twice as high a rate of re-hospitalization compared to nonsubstance abusers. - Drugs setting off psychotic symptoms in an unpredictable way
• High homeless population
• Limited number of treatment models & lack of support
• Rejected on both sides of the mental illness treatment system and substance abuse treatment system