Co-Occurring Disorder

When you have a mental health condition and an addiction at the same time, it is called a co-occurring disorder.

People who have a mental health condition are more likely to have a drug or alcohol addiction than people who do not have a mental health condition. Sometimes, people use drugs and alcohol to deal with symptoms of a mental illness. But research shows that drugs and alcohol can make symptoms worse.

Symptoms
Co-occurring disorders are common. But they can be hard to diagnose because symptoms may overlap. Because there are many different conditions you can have with a co-occurring disorder, there is a wide range of symptoms.

Treatment
The best treatment for a co-occurring disorder is when you get care for both your diagnosed mental illness and your addiction. This is called integrated care – when both conditions are addressed at the same time.

Common treatment for co-occurring disorders:

• Detoxification
• Rehabilitation
• Supportive housing
• Psychotherapy
• Medicine
• Self-help and support groups

Call us if you are looking for help, or search online for a provider.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose conditions or to be a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you might have a behavioral health condition, please seek help from a medical professional.