7 Facts About Mental Illness and Addiction

Unfortunately, addiction and mental disorders often go hand and hand. So what does this mean for you? 

If you or a loved one suffers from a mental illness, including depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, or an eating disorder, the risk for addiction is much higher. 

There’s even several terms used to describe this overlap: co-occurring disorders, dual diagnosis, or co-morbid disorder. They are all defined as having an addiction(s) and a mental disorder(s).

Here are some more facts about the link between mental health and addiction:

1. About one in 17 U.S. adults suffer from serious mental illness, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities, like performing work duties.
2. You can’t simply overcome mental illness through willpower nor do mental disorders have anything to do with intelligence or a person’s character. 
3. Nearly one-third of people with a mental disorder and one-half of people with severe mental illness also struggle with substance abuse disorder (SUD), according to the NAMI. 
4. Nearly 50 percent of people diagnosed with severe mental illness also have substance abuse disorder (SUD), with depression and bipolar disorder among the most common mood disorders.
5. Roughly 53 percent of people addicted to drugs and 37 percent of alcoholics suffer from at least one serious mental illness, according to the Journal of American Medical Association.
6. A large percentage of Americans fail to get help for co-occurring disorders. In fact, only 7.4 percent receive treatment for both the addiction and the mental illness -- and 55.8 percent receiving no treatment at all.
7. An integrated approach that treats both the addiction and the mental illness is the preferred treatment for co-occurring disorders. The reason: It’s nearly impossible to achieve good mental health while struggling with addiction. 

Treating Co-Occurring Disorders

Your best chance of recovery lies in integrated dual-diagnosis treatment that addresses both conditions in one recovery program. The Haven at Pismo provides a continuum of care for clients with co-occurring chemical dependency and mental illnesses. To learn more, call 805-202-3440.