When an individual has an addiction to drugs or alcohol, they have a substance use disorder. When they are also diagnosed with a mental illness, either simultaneously or sequentially, they have co-occurring disorders, also known as a dual diagnosis or comorbidity. The two illnesses interact and affect the prognosis of both.
Common Combinations
According to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 9.2 million people in the United States experienced both mental illness and a substance use disorder in 2018.
Although there are many different combinations of drug addictions and mental illnesses, specific combinations occur more often than others. Here are five of the most common combinations.
1 – Depression and Heroin Addiction
When a person takes heroin, they experience a very intense pleasant feeling as chemical changes take place in their brain. But when it is taken long-term, the drug destroys the parts of the brain that produce the pleasurable signals. Over time, the person is not able to feel any happiness unless the drug is present in their system because they have a form of depression caused by the damage to their brain.
2 – Anxiety Disorders and Cocaine Addiction
Often individuals who become addicted to cocaine take the drug because of the powerful and euphoric feeling it gives them. However, with its continued use, symptoms develop that indicate an anxiety disorder. These symptoms include suspiciousness, paranoia, insomnia, hallucinations, and violence.
3 – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Opioid Addiction
According to the American Psychiatric Association, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when a person witnessed or experienced a traumatic event such as combat or war, a natural disaster, a terrorist act, a serious accident, serious injury, rape, sexual violence, death threats, or watching someone die. Often those who survive these experiences have serious injuries that are often treated with prescription painkillers such as hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin), morphine, or codeine. These opioid drugs kill pain while producing feelings of calm and pleasure in the brain. Often the feelings of euphoria lead to addiction.
4 – Antisocial Personality Disorder and Alcoholism
Although alcohol addiction is linked to many mental health disorders, including dementia, mania, and schizophrenia, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, its closest link is to antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). The report explains that those with an addiction to alcohol are 21 times more likely to suffer from ASPD.
5 – Schizophrenia and Marijuana Addiction
It is not uncommon for people with schizophrenia to develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol. In fact, the results of a research report in the American Journal of Psychiatry show that approximately half of the people diagnosed with schizophrenia also have an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Other studies show a specific link between schizophrenia and marijuana addiction. Although the answer to why many of those with schizophrenia would overuse marijuana is not clear, it is known that users experience many of the same symptoms when using the drug that they do during a schizophrenic episode.
Additional Co-occurring Disorders with Addiction
Sometimes it appears that the addiction to drugs or alcohol causes mental illness. Other times, it seems the mental illness causes the addiction. In most cases, it does not matter which came first: the result is the same.
The following are several examples of other types of co-occurring disorders:
- Major depression with cocaine addiction
- Anxiety and mood disorders, such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, with alcohol addiction
- Schizophrenia with alcohol addiction and poly-drug addiction
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with an addiction to amphetamines and methamphetamines
- Borderline personality disorder with episodic poly-drug abuse (being in an intoxicated state without preference to a particular drug)
- Bipolar Disorder with alcohol addiction
Many of the mental health disorders are caused by the same factors as the substance use disorders, such as personal trauma, family history, and brain chemistry. For a person with co-occurring disorders to overcome their addiction, treatment has to target both the addictive disorder and the mental illness.
If You Need Help
If you or a loved one is struggling with a co-occurring disorder or an addiction to drugs or alcohol, you are not alone. For recovery to be long-lasting, it is essential to find a treatment center that understands the overlapping aspects of addiction and mental illness. The professionals at Canyon Vista Recovery Center, located in Mesa, Arizona, will treat all aspects of your diagnosis using a proven method that combines evidence-based addiction treatments, psychiatric care, and holistic therapies. Give us a call. We will answer your questions and help you begin your journey to a clean and sober life.
