Mental Health and Substance Use Co-Occurring Disorders

Mental health problems and substance use disorders sometimes occur together. This is because:

• Certain substances can cause people with an addiction to experience one or more symptoms of a mental health problem

• Mental health problems can sometimes lead to alcohol or drug use, as some people with a mental health problem may misuse these substances as a form of self-medication

• Mental health and substance use disorders share some underlying causes, including changes in brain composition, genetic vulnerabilities, and early exposure to stress or trauma

More than one in four adults living with serious mental health problems also has a substance use problem. Read more on the SAMHSA website