Co-occurring Disorders Treatment

Co-occurring disorders, or the times when substance use and mental illness symptoms are interrelated, have confused treatment professionals for years.  Luckily, for us at EBCRP, treatment of co-occuring disorders is a hallmark of our services. For years, most professionals tried to treat addiction while someone's mental health was ignored. Under the guidance of EBCRP's Executive Director, Dr. Joan Zweben, this has never been the case.

We know that addiction and mental health issues are often intertwined.  Addiction is common in people with mental health problems. According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association:

• Roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse;
   
• Thirty-seven percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness.
   
• Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29% abuse either alcohol or drugs.

Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness

But although substance abuse and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety are closely linked, one does not directly cause the other.

The relationship between substance abuse and mental health problems:

• Alcohol or drugs are often used to self-medicate the symptoms of depression or anxiety. Unfortunately, substance abuse causes side effects and in the long run worsens the very symptoms they initially numbed or relieved.
   
• Alcohol and drug abuse can increase underlying risk for mental disorders. Mental disorders are caused by a complex interplay of genetics, the environment, and other outside factors. If you are at risk for a mental disorder, drug or alcohol abuse may push you over the edge.
   
• Alcohol and drug abuse can make symptoms of a mental health problem worse. Substance abuse may sharply increase symptoms of mental illness or trigger new symptoms. Alcohol and drug abuse also interact with medications such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills, and mood stabilizers, making them less effective.