Co-occurring Mental Disorders and Addiction in Adolescents

Co-occurring mental disorders and addiction in adolescents refer to the situation where a young person experiences both a mental health issue, like depression or anxiety, and a substance use disorder, such as alcoholism or drug abuse. These conditions can influence one another, making it harder for the individual to recover. For example, a teenager coping with depression may turn to drugs or alcohol to feel better, while substance use can worsen mental health symptoms. Effective treatment often requires addressing both the mental health disorder and the addiction simultaneously for successful outcomes.