Depression and substance abuse frequently co-occur, which can lead to several challenges for people attempting to achieve recovery. Thankfully, there are evidence-based methods for treating co-occurring disorders, which can help people break free from the symptoms of depression and substance abuse simultaneously.
Prevalence of Co-Occurring Depression and Substance Abuse
In alcohol and drug treatment, co-occurring disorders are the norm, not the exception. A substantial portion of people seeking treatment for addiction have either had a mental illness before they started using drugs and alcohol or developed one in the course of a substance use disorder.
In 2022, over 21 million adults experienced co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions in the United States, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.[1] With the number of adults with a substance use disorder at more than 46 million, this means that nearly half of all people with a substance use disorder experience co-occurring mental health conditions.[2]
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders that people experience. It’s also frequently seen in those seeking treatment for substance use disorders. Scientists believe that there are multiple reasons why these two disorders so often happen in conjunction with one another and why the combination can be particularly challenging to break free from.
The Self-Medication Hypothesis
One potential link between depression and substance use disorders is called the self-medication hypothesis. The idea behind it is relatively simple: people experiencing depression symptoms will often turn to drug or alcohol use as a way of medicating their symptoms. As a result, they put themselves at risk of developing a substance use disorder.
This typically follows a common trajectory:
- People experience symptoms or signs of depression
- They turn to drugs or alcohol for symptom relief
- Once the effects of the substance wear off, their depression symptoms return in greater severity
- They use more drugs or alcohol to compensate for greater symptoms and growing tolerance
This can quickly lead to a destructive spiral of worsening mental health issues and growing substance use challenges. While drugs or alcohol can sometimes provide short-term relief, these effects are extremely short-lived and can rapidly escalate the number of symptoms and challenges you experience.
Substance-Induced Depression
The second pathway is known as substance-induced depression. People who develop a substance use disorder will often develop symptoms of depression or other mental health conditions as a result of their substance use. When this happens, mental health experts label this as substance-induced depression.
This can happen for several reasons. First, certain drugs can mimic the symptoms of depression. For example, alcohol and opioids can cause people to experience chronic fatigue, poor sleep quality, or a loss of interest in hobbies or activities.
Second, people experiencing substance use withdrawal can experience a number of physical and mental health symptoms that are similar to depression as well. Fatigue, hopelessness, and even thoughts of death or suicide are all common for people experiencing drug or alcohol withdrawal.
Finally, those who have been living with a substance use disorder for a long time frequently face external challenges that can also contribute to depression. It’s not uncommon for people living with a substance use disorder to face challenges such as:
- Job loss
- Financial insecurity
- Damaged personal relationships
- Divorce
- Housing insecurity
- Homelessness
Any one of these environmental factors can contribute to developing a mental health disorder such as depression.
Depression and Substance Abuse: How Co-Occurring Disorders Are Treated
People facing co-occurring depression and substance use disorders can face a challenging question when they seek treatment: Do you treat depression first? Alternatively, is it more important to break free from addiction first and then follow it up with depression treatment?
In fact, neither of these approaches is the most effective. Failing to address depression during substance use treatment can leave people with debilitating mental health symptoms that may trigger substance use cravings and ultimately raise your risk of relapse.
Similarly, treating depression but not substance use can interfere with the treatment process and make recovering from depression more difficult. It may even cause someone to give up on treatment altogether.
The best way to treat co-occurring depression and substance use is by enrolling in a dual-diagnosis treatment program. At these comprehensive mental health facilities, people can receive targeted, evidence-based therapies for their depression and substance use disorders simultaneously, helping them achieve a lasting and holistic recovery.
Dual-Diagnosis Treatment
The treatments for dual-diagnosis patients depend on a few key factors, including:
- The severity of your substance use disorder
- The severity of your depression
- Whether you experience physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop using drugs or alcohol
- What treatments you’ve tried before
With this information, the treatment team determines which level of care and treatment interventions are best suited to helping you achieve holistic recovery.
Critically important is that your treatment plan is designed with both substance use and mental health in mind. This means that you’ll receive targeted treatment for depression, evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders, and even combined treatment interventions that can help with both disorders. Some common methods used in dual-diagnosis treatment include the following:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a time-tested approach for assisting people who are facing both depression and substance use challenges. Working with a one-on-one CBT therapist can help you identify your main mental struggles, develop a healthier set of coping skills to deal with them, and prepare yourself for a lifelong recovery after you’ve completed treatment.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-assisted treatment can be beneficial for addressing substance use disorders. This method uses targeted medications that can reduce many of the physical and psychological symptoms of substance use, including lingering withdrawal symptoms that may last for months.
Medication-assisted treatment alone typically isn’t enough to bring about holistic recovery. However, it can play a key role in a comprehensive treatment plan.
Group Therapy
Group therapy can be an incredible resource for people dealing with co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions. It brings people with similar challenges together to share strategies that work for them. Group members can support one another through the recovery and healing processes.
These groups can be focused specifically on substance use disorders, depression, or co-occurring conditions. This helps clients get the right level of support for their needs and makes the path to recovery much easier.
Start Treatment at the Connecticut Center for Recovery
If you or a loved one is struggling with co-occurring depression and substance use disorders, call the team at the Connecticut Center for Recovery today or fill out our online contact form for more information. Our team can help you determine which treatment options best suit your needs and get you on the path to lifelong recovery today.
Sources:
[1]https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42728/NSDUHDetailedTabs2022/NSDUHDetailedTabs2022/NSDUHDetTabsSect6pe2022.htm
[2]https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42728/NSDUHDetailedTabs2022/NSDUHDetailedTabs2022/NSDUHDetTabsSect5pe2022.htm
Alexis earned both a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. She holds licenses in Marriage and Family Therapy in Florida, Connecticut, and Massachusetts and is also a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Alexis works with families, couples, children, and groups and also has a sub-specialty in addiction and recovery. She utilizes an integrated, systemic approach to counseling; empowering people to define what is not working for them in their lives and to discover the possibilities for making life work. In doing this, clients are guided towards identifying their strengths, accessing their resources, tapping into their potential for success, and taking action toward achieving their desired goals.
Alexis also has extensive experience in the administration of behavioral health organizations. She has developed, built, and supervised several facilities encompassing all levels of care while leading them through state licensing and The Joint Commission accreditation process.