8 Ways Drugs and Alcohol Affect Your Mental Health

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Connection 

Don’t feel bad if you or a loved one suffers from substance abuse and mental health disorders. It’s common for anyone with an addiction to have a co-occurring mental health issue. However, you must treat them by learning the ways drugs and alcohol affect your mental health to enjoy sober living if you suffer from both.

There’s a strong tie between substance abuse and dual diagnosis of mental illness. Over one in four adults with a significant mental illness also suffer from substance use disorders. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which came first. But when it comes to rehab, it doesn’t matter whether the drugs and alcohol came first or the mental illness did since both need to be treated. 

Whether you choose an inpatient or residential facility or go with partial hospitalization or an intensive outpatient program, your treatment plan should address both substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorder.