Co-occurring Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness

Co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illness, also known as dual diagnosis, refers to individuals who struggle with both a mental health issue—like depression or anxiety—and a substance use disorder, such as alcohol or drug addiction. These conditions can influence each other, making treatment more complex. For example, someone may use drugs to cope with their mental illness, while the substance use can worsen their mental health symptoms. Effective treatment often requires addressing both issues simultaneously to help individuals achieve better recovery outcomes and improve their overall quality of life.