Numerous surveys about drug addiction have revealed that it can occur simultaneously with other illnesses such as mental disorders. This condition is called comorbidity. The treatment of a comorbid condition tends to be more challenging compared to recovery from drug addiction alone.  It is estimated that six out of ten drug addicts suffer from mental illness.

Relationship between Drug Addiction and Mental Illness

People suffering from any psychiatric condition are at a high risk for mental illness. Generally, it can occur in three ways – drug addiction contributing to mental illness, mental illness ( depression and anxiety) contributing to drug addiction, or drug addiction and mental illness caused by other external factors such as financial stress, and problems at workplace.

According to several studies about drug addiction, the number of drug addicts suffering from coexisting disorders is also increasing at an alarming level. The contributing factors may include easy accessibility to drugs, and improved screening techniques. Also, people with mental illness use drugs for a number of reasons -the reduction of negative symptoms, and feel good to name a few. One example is the use of cannabis which is known for its anti-depressant qualities.

Predisposing Factors of Comorbidity

• Environmental Triggers

The environmental risk factors include a person’s surroundings that may increase the risk of addiction. If your community has a positive attitude about drug addiction, you can be at high risk. Peer influence is another contributing factor that may encourage you to engage in problem behavior. Family conflicts and drug abusing parents may also be the root causes of the problem. In such cases, drug addiction can lead to mental disorders resulting in comorbidity.

• Genetics

Genes determine the level of influence of drug on one’s body. It also influences how long a drug remains in your body and how you respond to a drug. The complex interactions of multiple genes also influence the development of addiction. Similarly, genes also alter how a person responds to stress and even increases risk taking behaviors.

• Effect on Brain

Both drugs and mental disorders affect the same areas of the brain. For instance, they affect the brain circuits that release dopamine which in turn regulates the transmission of messages from one neuron to another. The changes in the brain that may occur overtime due to addiction or mental disorders stresses the fact that addiction may predispose to psychotic problems and vice versa.

About Drug Addiction and Comorbidity Treatment

Careful diagnosis is necessary to ensure that addiction symptoms are not mistaken for mental disorders. A comprehensive treatment approach is also required to provide the best treatment for both addiction and mental illness. Medications such as bupropion are effective in treating drug craving as well as depression. Behavior therapy is one of the most successful options for people suffering from comorbid conditions. Multisystemic therapy targets adolescents with serious antisocial behavior and drug abuse. Brief Strategic Family Therapy deals with teens with problem behaviors such as oppositional behavior, conduct problems at school and home, and risky sexual behaviors. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is considered as the best psychotherapy for children with anxiety and mood disorders.

A number of treatment options are available for adults as well. This includes Therapeutic Communities (TCs), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and exposure therapy. Therapeutic communities are suitable for individuals with vocational deficits, and vulnerable or neglected youth. DBT is designed for addicts with self harm behaviors while exposure therapy is ideal for patients with comorbid PTSD and cocaine addiction. Visibly, more researches about drug addiction and comorbidity are required to fully understand the effect of different treatment methods.