A substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to a person’s inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUDs. Researchers have found that about half of individuals who experience a SUD during their lives will also experience a co-occurring mental disorder and vice versa. Co-occurring disorders can include anxiety disorders, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and schizophrenia, among others. While SUDs and other mental disorders commonly co-occur, that does not mean that one caused the other.

No individual’s experience with addiction and other disorders is exactly the same as another’s. There are a lot of factors that may contribute to substance abuse and disorders, which is why it is essential to seek help from qualified medical and mental health professionals.

National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Substance Use and Co-Occurring Mental Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health