The Mental Illness-Addiction Connection

Dual diagnosis treatment (aka the treatment of co-occurring disorders) is not just a trend. While the terms may seem like buzzwords within the treatment community, the approach is here to stay. One of the reasons is that mental health issues aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

A new report suggests that one in five adults in the United States (nearly 50 million people) suffered mental illnesses in the past year, with women and young adults suffering disproportionately.

The survey was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and it found women were more likely than men to have experienced a mental illness, while the rate of mental illness among people aged 18 to 25 was twice that of those aged 50 and older.

The survey also found that five percent of American adults, or 11.4 million people, had suffered a serious mental illness in the past year that substantially interfered with their lives.

As substance abuse experts know all too well, Americans suffering mental illnesses are three times more likely to develop substance dependence or substance abuse disorders than adults who have not experienced mental illness.

For the study, SAMHSA surveyed 67,500 people aged 12 and older in person around the United States.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment at The Canyon

If you or someone you love needs help with addiction and mental health issues, call The Canyon at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment for co-occurring disorders, financing or insurance.