Although substance abuse and addiction can be understood as mental illnesses on their own, addiction tends to co-occur with other mental illnesses. Comorbidity, or dual-diagnosis, refers to the existence of two conditions at once, such as a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder.

These conditions co-exist, causing disruptions and exacerbations of symptoms in one or both conditions. To understand why addiction and mental illness tend to occur together, it is essential to understand how the brain functions in response to each disorder.

How Addiction Impacts the Brain

When someone develops an addiction, their brain begins to crave the rewarding pleasure of what comes from their substance use. Drugs and alcohol impact and stimulate the brain’s reward center, causing a person to feel compelled to use over and over again. The brain will respond to addiction based on a variety of factors such as:

• The type of substance(s) being used
• The number of substances being used
• The frequency of drug or alcohol use
• The intensity of drug or alcohol use
• The stage of addiction

Because the brain is responsible for many things, such as regulating emotion, decision-making, and breathing, the use of drugs can cause long-lasting alterations to brain chemistry and brain functions. For example, certain psychoactive drugs interact with the limbic system in the brain to produce intense emotions of euphoria, which affect both the mind and body.

When a person takes a drug continuously to achieve good feelings over and over again, a cycle of drug abuse is created. Eventually, this person may take their drug of choice to feel normal. As a consequence of addiction, the brain rewards harmful substance abuse.

The Correlation of Brain Changes Between Addiction and Mental Illness

Changes made to the brain from substance abuse happen in the same brain areas affected by mental illnesses such as depression, mood disorders, personality disorders, and even anxiety.

While the link between substance abuse and mental illness is complex, many mental health disorders increase the risk factors that cause people to engage in substance use in the first place. This is especially seen when people try to self-medicate from their mental health disorder, resulting in the abuse of drugs or alcohol.

Evaluating the Overlap Between Addiction and Mental Illness

There are many reasons why the comorbidity rates between addiction and mental illness remain high. It is important to note that co-occurring disorders do not always happen as the cause of one another. By evaluating the overlap, we can see that:

• Drug use can surface or exacerbate symptoms of undiagnosed mental health disorders
• Many mental health disorders involve the presence of intense symptoms of distress, causing people to self-medicate
• Untreated trauma and genetic vulnerabilities can cause people to be more susceptible to the development of addiction or other mental health disorders
• The age at which symptoms appear for any disorder may influence the risk of addiction or other mental illnesses developing
• Untreated substance use disorders can contribute to the development of other mental illnesses

It can be challenging to recognize a dual diagnosis in yourself and others because symptoms of addiction and mental health disorders often overlap. Signs and symptoms will also vary depending on the mental health disorder and the type of substance in question.

Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders

While many people experience addiction before being diagnosed with a mental health disorder, others experience addiction after. No matter which one happened first, it is crucial that your treatment plan targets both disorders simultaneously to ensure long-term recovery.

Many treatment centers offer comprehensive, dual-diagnosis treatment plans in a safe and secure residential facility, which may be the most beneficial form of treatment.

Treatment for your mental health disorder may involve a variety of treatment modalities, such as psychotherapy, group therapy, prescription medications, skills training, and peer support. Treatment for your substance use disorder may include behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and support groups to help keep yourself accountable.

When it comes to finding the right treatment program, try to make sure that the facility has experience with your specific mental health disorder and co-occurring disorders. You can also look for:

• Dual-diagnosis treatment for mental health and substance use disorders
• Client-focused therapy options to ensure that you are taking part in setting goals and developing new and healthy strategies for change
• Treatment that involves psychoeducation and other education regarding your disorder
• The inclusion of your preferred treatment experience (residential or outpatient, traditional or holistic treatment)
• A professional evaluation by a mental health professional prior to admission

Substance use and mental illness tend to co-occur for a variety of reasons. Mental illness can make a person more susceptible to self-mediation, causing them to develop an addiction. Similarly, a person with a substance use disorder is at high risk for the development of a mental illness. Many mental illnesses occur in the same brain areas that are changed from prolonged substance abuse, especially in the brain’s reward center. As the brain is responsible for regulating many things, such as emotion and decision-making, the presence of two disorders at once can severely impact a person’s ability to function soundly.

Treatment for co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis involves a treatment plan that targets both disorders simultaneously. At Sabino Recovery, we understand how challenging it is for dual-diagnosed clients to experience mental clarity. We offer comprehensive services to treat co-occurring disorders all at once. For more information about the treatment options we offer, call us today.