People with addiction often have one or more associated health issues, which could include lung or heart disease, stroke, cancer, or mental health conditions. Imaging scans, chest X-rays, and blood tests can show the damaging effects of long-term drug use throughout the body.
Drug use and other mental illness often co-exist. In some cases, mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia may come before addiction. In other cases, drug use may trigger or worsen those mental health conditions, particularly in people with specific vulnerabilities.43,44
When Addiction And Mental Illness Co-exist
Some people with disorders like anxiety or depression may use drugs in an attempt to alleviate psychiatric symptoms. This may exacerbate their mental disorder in the long run, as well as increase the risk of developing addiction.43,44 Treatment for all conditions should happen concurrently.
Many individuals who develop substance use disorders (SUD) are also diagnosed with mental disorders, and vice versa.2,3 Although there are fewer studies on comorbidity among youth, research suggests that adolescents with substance use disorders also have high rates of co-occurring mental illness; over 60 percent of adolescents in community-based substance use disorder treatment programs also meet diagnostic criteria for another mental illness.4
The brain continues to develop through adolescence. Circuits that control executive functions such as decision making and impulse control are among the last to mature, which enhances vulnerability to drug use and the development of a substance use disorder.3,24 Early drug use is a strong risk factor for later development of substance use disorders,24 and it may also be a risk factor for the later occurrence of other mental illnesses.25,26 However, this link is not necessarily causative and may reflect shared risk factors including genetic vulnerability, psychosocial experiences, and/or general environmental influences. For example, frequent marijuana use during adolescence can increase the risk of psychosis in adulthood, specifically in individuals who carry a particular gene variant.26,27
It is also true that having a mental disorder in childhood or adolescence can increase the risk of later drug use and the development of a substance use disorder. Some research has found that mental illness may precede a substance use disorder, suggesting that better diagnosis of youth mental illness may help reduce comorbidity. One study found that adolescent-onset bipolar disorder confers a greater risk of subsequent substance use disorder compared to adult-onset bipolar disorder.28 Similarly, other research suggests that youth develop internalizing disorders, including depression and anxiety, prior to developing substance use disorders.29
NIDA. 2022, September 27. Part 1: The Connection Between Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness. Retrieved from -reports/common-comorbidities-substance-use-disorders/part-1-connection-between-substance-use-disorders-mental-illness
NIDA. "Part 1: The Connection Between Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness." National Institute on Drug Abuse, 27 Sep. 2022, -reports/common-comorbidities-substance-use-disorders/part-1-connection-between-substance-use-disorders-mental-illness
NIDA. Part 1: The Connection Between Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness. National Institute on Drug Abuse website. -reports/common-comorbidities-substance-use-disorders/part-1-connection-between-substance-use-disorders-mental-illness. September 27, 2022
Research suggests 50 percent or more of patients with psychiatric disorders abuse some type of drugs, including alcohol. Yet there are relatively few treatment programs that address addiction and mental health disorders together, according to John Tsuang, MD, Director of the Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Dr. Tsuang, who is also a Clinical Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, spoke about patients with a dual diagnosis of addiction and mental disorders at the recent American Psychiatric Association annual meeting.
While there are good treatment options for addiction and for mental health disorders, there is no approved medication that can be used for both, he said. That means patients struggling with both issues might not have medications that can treat both disorders. They might need to take more medications, as well as undergo different types of therapy. As a result, dual diagnosis treatment can be intense and lengthy. His program offers outpatient treatment five days a week.
Because of the complicated regimen required to treat both mental health problems and addiction, Dr. Tsuang said patients and their families should look for a doctor who is certified to treat both areas.
Did you know many teens suffer from depression, anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder or some other mental illness? This puts them more at risk for developing a drug or alcohol problem.
This service delivery guidance document provides advice to assist mental health and addiction services to enable the provision of more integrated care for people with co-existing mental health and addiction problems. It is designed as a companion to the clinical guidance document Te Ariari o te Oranga: The Assessment and Management of People with Co-existing Mental Health and Addiction Problems.
People who have opioid use disorder often also have a co-existing mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety. In fact, out of the 19.3 million adults who suffered from substance use disorder in 2018, 9.2 million also suffered from a co-occurring mental illness 6.
Since opioid misuse often exacerbates or leads to the onset of mental health conditions, these drugs can increase the frequency of suicidal ideation as well. You may feel hopeless, unable to control your situation, and unsure how to break free from the cycle of opiate addiction.
Approximately 14 to 53% of those with BPD also experience an eating disorder diagnosis [3]. BPD differs from any other disorder listed as it falls under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness (DSM-5) criteria for personality disorders. These refer to long-term patterns of thoughts and behaviors that are more chronic versions of mental illness than an anxiety or mood disorder, for example. Those with both BPD and eating disorders struggle with emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness skills, and grounding themselves. Individuals with BPD also engage in severe behaviors to avoid real or perceived rejection and these behaviors, with some of these being eating disorder behaviors.
A co-occurring disorder is the condition of having a mental health disorder and a substance abuse disorder at the same time. These disorders often co-exist for a long period of time before they are diagnosed, and they need an integrated and simultaneous treatment program that addresses both conditions to have long-lasting recovery.
There are more people who have co-occurring disorders than you may imagine. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that nearly 50 percent of people with a serious mental illness also suffer from substance abuse or addiction. Also, 53 percent of people who abuse drugs and 37 percent of people who abuse alcohol report suffering from at least one serious mental health issue.
More likely to experiment with drugs: People suffering from mental illnesses may be more likely to experiment with substances, especially people with a disorder that includes self-control or impulsiveness issues.
When someone has a mental disorder and substance use disorder, the best option for treatment is an inpatient program where both conditions are treated at the same time. Many residential treatment centers have the experience and are equipped to treat co-occurring disorders. Inpatient treatment involves staying in rehab for a period of time, receiving around-the-clock support and care and the therapies needed to enter a new way of living. Individuals who go to residential treatment will have access to psychiatric care, medical care, traditional addiction treatments, learn life and coping skills, and relapse prevention techniques. These are all valuable skills that can be taken with them after they complete their program.
Even though addiction and many mental illnesses are designated as chronic, progressive diseases, many individuals who have these disorders have been able to turn their lives around to live happy and fulfilling lives. Achieving remission in co-occurring disorders requires effective treatment that integrates both conditions, giving equal attention and resources to addiction recovery and mental health treatment.
Co-Occurring Disorders such as mental health and substance abuse disorders are very common and oftentimes overlooked. It has been estimated that 37 percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness. Conversely, it has been estimated that 29 percent of all people diagnosed as mentally ill abuse either alcohol or drugs.
Does drug abuse cause mental disorders, or vice versa?Drug addiction and mental health disorders often co-exist. In some cases, mental diseases may precede ad- diction; in other cases, drug abuse may trigger or exacerbate mental disorders, particularly in individuals with specific vulnerabilities.
Older adults. Other existing medical conditions and psychiatric disorders can make treating a substance use problem in an elderly patient even more challenging. At NewYork-Presbyterian, our geriatric psychiatrists and other mental health care professionals with expertise caring for older patients offer experience and compassion. Using cognitive-based therapy, reward-based therapies, and other techniques, they target substance use along with any co-existing disorders to help our older patients achieve abstinence and recovery. 2ff7e9595c
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