This literature review examines the clinical and economic value of integrating pharmacists more fully into behavioral health care, with a focus on serious mental illness and substance use disorders. It highlights how pharmacists can strengthen treatment engagement and medication continuity through comprehensive medication management, adherence support, medication access assistance, transitions-of-care services, patient and provider education, early recognition and referral, and collaboration within multidisciplinary care teams. Drawing on evidence from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and opioid use disorder, the paper connects improved medication continuity with lower risks of relapse, hospitalization, overdose, and other costly disruptions in care. It also outlines practical strategies for expanding pharmacist involvement across health systems, outpatient practices, community pharmacies, and substance use treatment settings. Taken together, the evidence supports pharmacist integration as a scalable strategy for improving patient outcomes, expanding behavioral health workforce capacity, and reducing avoidable healthcare utilization and costs.
Download the full report here.
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