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Addiction & Mental Health


According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. From anxiety, mood disorders, depression, to addiction, PTSD, and schizophrenia and everything in between, almost every person alive has suffered from a mental health disorder at some point in their life. 

Unfortunately, mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD)/addiction often occur together. It’s hard to know which one started first. Was a substance or behavior used to cope with a mental health issue, or did someone's addiction cause them to become anxious, depressed, or even suicidal. 









Studies have found that people with a mental disorder, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may use drugs or alcohol as a form of self-medication. However, although some drugs may temporarily help with some symptoms of mental disorders, they may make the symptoms worse over time. Additionally, brain changes in people with mental disorders may enhance the rewarding effects of substances, making it more likely they will continue to use the substance.

Conversely, substance use may trigger changes in brain structure and function that make a person more likely to develop a mental disorder.