53% of people who abuse drugs will also experience a mental health problem at some point, and this is nearly 4 times the average for the non drug abusing community; and helps somewhat to understand the factors that may lead to addiction and substance abuse.
Concurrent mental health problems and addiction make the treatment of the addiction far more complex, and there can be a continuum along which either the metal health problem or addiction may be more harmful. It is important to realize that all mental health problems differ in their treatment requirements and symptomology, and a person with anxiety, will not likely act in the same way as someone with a borderline personality disorder or someone with depression. Accurate pre treatment assessment of the concurrent mental health problem and addiction is the best way to determine the most appropriate treatment needed, and as such a number of professionals may need to be involved in the diagnosis.
page last update Sep 12, 2010
