Interrelation of substance Abuse and Mental Illness

Mental illnesses and disorders arising from Substance use are often interrelated. In most cases, people take to drugs or alcohol addiction in an attempt to overcome mood disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety. Similarly constant drug abuse or dependence can lead to symptoms of mental health issues. However, both conditions are likely to share certain common family history of dual diagnosis, stress levels, past traumatic experiences, degree of exposure to drugs etc. Hence, depression or anxiety may not be treated in isolation of the treatment of addiction to drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately most people suffering from substance abuse and mental illness are not getting the right desired treatments due to ignorance on the part of care givers.

Result of a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) show that while 50 percent of general psychiatric patients also suffer from a substance use disorder, only 7.4 percent of individuals receive treatment for both the conditions. The report further stated that around 37 percent of alcoholics and 53 percent of drug abusers face a high risk of developing a mental illness at any given point.

According to mental health experts, genes and other hereditary factors may put individuals at the risk of addiction and mental health-related problems, with a greater possibility of an overlap between such genetic factors. These overlapping factors indicate that some people are more likely to develop multiple disorders than others.

Importantly, if there is any impairment in an individual's reward and stress functions, which are strongly linked to addiction, it could also render them vulnerable to coexisting conditions. It has been found that those suffering from schizophrenia and those who are addicted to drugs have impaired reward pathways with a high concentration of dopamine activity. People depend on drugs to gain euphoria, without realizing that their substance abuse can trigger latent mental illnesses, making them worse over time.

Dual diagnosis can be treated with a specialized treatment provided to address both the mental disorder and the substance use disorder at the same time. Substance-induced mental health disorders can be prevented if one avoids addictive substances. Mental health issues may seem treatable in the beginning but can become severe with the passage of time. It is important to screen patients for potential cognitive impairment and provide integrated treatment that takes care of both disorders.