Can Mental Health Treatment Help With Addiction Recovery?
More often than you might imagine, someone who is struggling with substance use disorder is also facing another challenge: Some kind of mental health condition. When thinking about what rehab is like and how to prepare, one of the most common experiences someone will have in a drug or alcohol rehab program is also addressing their mental health struggles at the same time, and addressing both during treatment can make a significant impact on their overall success in managing the substance use. So, how is addiction and mental health treated together during a substance use disorder treatment program? Explore the answer in the article below.
Table of contents
» What Is the Link Between Mental Health Disorders and Addiction?
» How Common Are Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders?
» What Types of Mental Health Therapies Are Used in Addiction Treatment?
» What Are the Benefits of Addressing Mental Health in Early Recovery?
» Key Takeaways on How Is Addiction and Mental Health Treated
» Resources
What Is the Link Between Mental Health Disorders and Addiction?
Mental health disorders and addiction are strongly linked, and having one can significantly increase the chances that someone will also experience the other at some point in their lives. There are many facets of this link, and understanding how the two influence and affect each other can help in understanding the basics of addiction, the main triggers for alcoholics, and other relevant details.
There are many ways that mental health disorders can be linked, including:
- Trying to Cope: Often, people who are struggling with their mental health and dealing with things like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will try to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs as a way of dealing with their symptoms. Unfortunately, this substance use can easily lead to addiction.
- Trauma and Stress: Experiencing adverse events in childhood, including trauma and chronic stress, can increase the risk of both mental health struggles and addiction down the road.
- Genetics: Genetic predispositions and vulnerabilities can make someone more likely to struggle with both substance use and mental health.
- Risky Behaviors: Some mental disorders can increase risky behaviors, such as using drugs to cope. Similarly, some mental disorders can alter the brain to make substance use feel more rewarding or worthwhile, and both of these can increase the chances that someone with a mental health condition will develop a substance use disorder.
- Brain Circuitry: Both addiction and mental health disorders can affect, disrupt, and even change the communication pathways in the brain that are responsible for things like decision-making, rewards, and emotional regulation, fueling problems with both as these changes happen. Taking a substance might temporarily reduce mental health symptoms, but it causes potentially permanent brain changes that can make each problem worse over time.
There are so many ways that these two conditions can be linked, and that’s why professional addiction specialists today no longer look at someone’s mental health struggles as a separate problem from their substance use.
Instead, both are seen as facets of the same ultimate problem—the patient is struggling, and both are fueling these struggles. Instead of considering them as totally different issues, mental health and substance use are now viewed as one set of challenges that both need to be addressed at the same time to give the person the best chance at achieving long-lasting recovery.
How Common Are Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders?
When thinking about how is addiction and mental health treated, it’s important to realize just how closely linked these two things really are. The research is clear about this: Many people who struggle with addiction are also working on their mental health.
The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, for example, found that 35 percent of American adults who had a mental disorder also had a substance use disorder. The most common co-occurring mental health disorders are anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and personality disorders (psychosis, borderline personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder).
The rate is even higher when looking at adolescents (children, teens, and young adults). Some research has suggested that more than 60 percent of adolescents in substance use disorder treatment programs also could be diagnosed as having some kind of mental illness.
When looking at people 18 and older, those who are federally defined as having a “serious mental illness”—meaning they have a diagnosable disorder that is causing serious impairment in daily functioning that interferes or limits major life activities—about 1 in 4 people will also have a substance use disorder.
Research based on a large, nationally representative sample found that people with mental health, personality, and substance use disorders were more likely to misuse prescription opioids. It was found that about 43% of patients in substance use disorder treatment for misusing or abusing prescription painkillers were diagnosed with or exhibiting symptoms of mental health disorders like depression or anxiety.
What Types of Mental Health Therapies Are Used in Addiction Treatment?
So, how is addiction and mental health treated? Comprehensive drug and alcohol rehab programs focus on providing effective, evidence-based mental health therapies that can help patients identify and then change harmful or flawed thoughts and behaviors while becoming motivated to continue working toward a better future. Some of the more common types of therapy in a substance use disorder treatment program include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: CBT is a standard addiction treatment that can help patients see how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are contributing to their struggles – and then identify and change harmful or flawed patterns that are driving their addiction.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy: This form of CBT helps patients learn to regulate their emotions better and improve their social skills to handle intense feelings and behaviors better.
- Motivational Interviewing: This type of therapy helps strengthen a patient’s inner motivation to make positive change and reach their recovery goals.
- Family Therapy: This can help family members understand the dynamics of addiction and start to repair strained relationships that were affected by the disease.
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What Are the Benefits of Addressing Mental Health in Early Recovery?
Before you figure out how to check someone into rehab, it’s helpful to realize that there are enormous benefits to addressing both addiction and mental health struggles at the same time and tackling these two significant challenges while in early recovery can greatly help someone learn how to live a better, healthier, happier life without drugs or alcohol while also helping them stabilize and get back on their feet, especially after years of substance misuse.
Early intervention can prevent mental health conditions from getting worse while also improving the long-term outcomes of addiction treatment and reducing the risk of relapse in recovery. By building a foundation for recovery, this two-pronged treatment plan can help individuals foster a sense of purpose and resilience that will be essential for their sustained recovery.
Key Takeaways on How Is Addiction and Mental Health Treated
- Addiction and mental health are closely linked, and someone who is struggling with substance use disorder is at a high risk of also struggling with mental health conditions.
- Experiencing a traumatic or stressful upbringing can increase the risks of someone eventually developing both addiction and mental disorders.
- It’s estimated that 35 percent of adults in America who have a mental health condition also have a substance use disorder.
- Many types of therapy can successfully help people treat their addictions and mental health struggles.
- Addressing mental health challenges in early recovery can significantly improve a person’s prognosis for a successful long-term recovery.
How is addiction and mental health treated? At the same time, experts agree that the two things are closely linked. At WhiteSands Treatment Center, we know that we need to help you deal with your depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder while also addressing your drug or alcohol use. The two are strongly tied together, and ignoring one while treating the other is a recipe for failure. Call us at 877-855-3470 to learn how we can help you overcome both addiction and mental health struggles at the same time.
Resources
- National Institute on Mental Health – Finding Help for Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Disorders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – Co-Occurring Disorders and Health Conditions
- National Library of Medicine – Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
