The likelihood of developing a mental health disorder can be linked to a complex combination of factors including brain chemistry, genetics, environment, lifestyle, and trauma. Numerous mental health disorders exist and often co-occur with addiction.

​

Mental illness can manifest in many different ways and is not always easy to detect. Some symptoms are more noticeable than others, especially depending on their severity and impact on a person’s life. Common signs and symptoms of mental illness include mood swings, changes in appetite, feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and an altered sense of reality.

It is not uncommon for drug abuse and mental health issues to occur concurrently, which is known as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis. Studies have found that more than half of adults (50.5 percent) in the United States with a substance use disorder also have a mental illness. While addiction is recognized as a mental illness, it is often regarded separately from other mental health conditions. Some people use drugs or alcohol as a way of coping with the symptoms of mental illness and to self-medicate.

​

Mental health disorders can also become more pronounced with increased substance abuse, which will require counseling services as the addiction and mental illness progresses. There are generally overlapping symptoms which can make it more difficult to differentiate one condition from the other. It is important to treat both mental health and drug abuse issues simultaneously at a reliable mental health rehab center due to their interrelated nature. If one condition is left untreated, it can increase the risk of relapse and make achieving long-term recovery more difficult.