Both mental health conditions and drug abuse can make a person’s life difficult. When you combine the two, though, the problems may seem insurmountable. Co-occurring chronic mental illness and substance abuse disorder have proven difficult to treat. Therapies that focus on one issue and not the other typically end up failing at treating either.

At Transformations Treatment Center, we understand the unique hurdles facing those with chronic co-occurring disorders. That’s why our therapeutic approach uses evidence based techniques that treat the whole person. Understanding how chronic mental illness and substance abuse intersect is important. If you’re battling these issues on your own, though, it’s time to reach out for help.

Are Chronic Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Connected?

Just because two issues occur at the same time doesn’t mean they’re interrelated. Unfortunately, this is far too often the case with substance abuse and chronic mental illnesses. Many people who live with mental illness turn to drug or alcohol abuse to deal with their symptoms.

Of course, this isn’t a one-way relationship. We’ll discuss this in-depth later, but there’s no denying that chronic mental illness and substance abuse are connected. Unfortunately, the risk of this issue increases the longer a person with mental health issues goes without treatment.

Mental Disorders With Increased Risk of Substance Abuse

Any mental illness can increase the potential for developing an addiction. There are certain conditions, though, that carry an even higher risk factor. Each of the following psychological problems commonly comes with accompanying drug abuse, showing just how common it is for chronic mental illness and substance abuse to occur together. The following list features the percentage of increased risk of each condition:

Antisocial personality disorder: 15.5%
Manic episode: 14.5%
Schizophrenia: 10.1%
Panic disorder: 4.3%
Major depressive episode: 4.1%
Obsessive-compulsive disorder: 3.4%
Phobias: 2.1%

Some of these issues — such as manic episodes — may not be constant. For instance, some individuals with bipolar disorder only experience two or three instances of mania throughout their entire lives. While these episodes have the potential to occur infrequently, they result from an underlying chronic mental illness.

The increased risk percentages mentioned above belie the seriousness of certain chronic mental illnesses and substance abuse. For instance, 47% of individuals with schizophrenia deal with drug or alcohol abuse in their lives. The rate among the general population is only 17%.

Treatment for Chronic Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

There are various approaches to treating those who have co-occurring disorders. Each of the following has shown effectiveness in helping those with chronic mental illness and substance abuse disorders:

Medical detox (offsite)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Adventure therapy
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
Trauma management coping mechanisms
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

We offer each of these therapies at Transformations Treatment Center, but they’re only the tip of the iceberg. You’ll find that our program offers more therapeutic approaches than many other reputable facilities. This is because we understand that no two people are the same. So if you’re dealing with chronic mental illness and substance abuse, your treatment plan should cater to you.

Need More Information?

Start Your Journey - We are here to help

The Relationship Goes Both Ways

If it were as easy as saying “chronic mental illness leads to substance abuse,” we could simply focus on preventing and treating psychological conditions. Unfortunately, the relationship isn’t this simple. Statistics show that mental health issues increase the risk of developing substance abuse disorder. Research also proves, however, that the opposite is true.

In fact, looking at each problem on its own shows just how big this public health issue has become.

Adults With Substance Abuse Disorders

Among American adults suffering from substance abuse disorders, 37.9% also live with a mental illness. Abusing drugs or alcohol can cause damage to the brain that affects a person psychologically. Unfortunately, 87% of individuals with co-occurring disorders do not receive treatment for their drug or alcohol addiction.

Adults With Chronic Mental Illness

Among Americans living with a diagnosable mental illness, 18.2% also have a substance use disorder. Over 55% of individuals dealing with co-occurring disorders do not receive treatment for their mental health issues.

What Does This Mean?

When dealing with chronic mental illness and substance abuse, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Either of these conditions can stem from the other, or they may arise completely independent of each other. Sometimes it’s difficult to even identify which issue arose first. This showcases just how important it is to take a holistic approach that focuses on both conditions.

You Can Overcome Chronic Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

Any co-occurring disorder presents unique challenges to treatment. When the underlying conditions are of a chronic nature, though, the difficulty reaches new heights. Fortunately, this is not an insurmountable task. With the right combination of therapeutic approaches, you can begin the journey back to health. These conditions don’t have to hold you back.

At Transformations Treatment Center, our goal is to help every single person who walks through our doors. We do this by utilizing a holistic approach that focuses on treating each part of the individual. Chronic mental illness and substance abuse are daunting enemies, but modern therapies have proven effective at overcoming both.