What Is Common Comorbidity in Substance Abuse?

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What Causes Substance Abuse?

Substance abuse is often caused by a combination of factors such as genetics, mood disorders, and the environment. Within those broad strokes are several nuances that lead to dependency.¹ For example, the child of a parent who has a substance use disorder has a higher chance of developing the dependency themselves.² This occurs due to either a genetic predisposition to addiction or viewing substance abuse as a common practice after watching their parents partake in it for years. This is just one example of how dependency can take root.

Commonly Abused Substances

Commonly abused substances that lead to mental health and substance abuse followed by a comorbid disorder include:

• Alcohol
• Prescription Drugs
• Marijuana
• Opiates
• Stimulants

There are dozens upon dozens of drugs and substances within each of these bullet points. Prescription drug addiction, for example, includes Xanax, Klonopin, and more.

Another prominent factor in substance abuse is comorbidity. Comorbid substance abuse occurs when two or more dependencies are present. For example, a person can be dependent on multiple drugs such as alcohol and opiates or any combination. Comorbidity can also mean having an underlying condition such as depression while harboring a dependency on alcohol. Thus, any combination of illness and dependency is comorbid substance abuse.

Comorbid conditions may complicate the treatment plan due to the variations of care needed for both disorders. Plus, comorbid conditions can increase the co-occurring issues.

Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illnesses

Mental illness is a leading cause of comorbid substance abuse. In modern times, mental health and substance abuse are widely discussed concepts. Moreover, treating them and their comorbid symptoms is slowly becoming easier. Historically, mental illness was treated with a certain level of shame that prevented many from seeking treatment. Thankfully, that is not as common, and individuals are able to seek help for mental health and substance use disorders openly.

Why Do These Disorders Often Co-Occur?

As previously stated, the cycle of recurring disorders begins and continues due to a lack of dual treatment. Much of the work towards making the journey to rehab easier is removing social stigmas and myths surrounding both mental illness and substance dependency. Comorbid disorders are nothing to be ashamed of; however, the fear of how they may be viewed keeps many people out of rehab. Help and treatment are vital during the road to recovery.

Common Risk Factors

Here’s the breakdown for each of the most common factors in developing mental health and substance abuse issues that lead to comorbidity.

Substance Use Disorder and Physical Comorbid Conditions

There are many physical ailments that can lead to comorbid substance abuse. Here are common examples.

• Chronic pain: Chronic pain like that from physical trauma or illness often spire the want to self-medicate. This, combined with a documented over-prescription of opioids from medical staff, cause chronic pain to lead to substance abuse.
• Tobacco use: The risks associated with tobacco use is well-known, but many people substitute their tobacco cravings with a litany of other harmful drugs. Additionally, the pain caused by long-term complications of tobacco use can also be a cause for dependency.
• Infectious disease transmission: The risk of infectious disease is increased with intravenous drugs like heroin, crack, and opium. Blood-borne illnesses are deadly and lead to comorbid substance abuse such as HIV and drug dependency.

Comorbid Substance Use Disorder and HIV

Anyone who shares needles, razors, etc., with multiple people, has a heightened risk of contracting HIV.

Over one million people per year admit to intravenous drug use. That’s countless needles being shared countless times, each with the risk of contracting a blood-borne illness. Increases in intravenous drug use correspond with rising levels of HIV in the general population.

Why Is HIV Screening Important?

HIV screening helps monitor and manage the number of HIV cases and treatments for individuals. It helps prevent the spread of HIV and educates visitors about how the virus works.

Diagnosis and Treatment When Comorbidity Exists

Finding the right team for a comorbid diagnosis and dual treatment takes time and research. This is because it takes specialized experience to differentiate the symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse.

Why It Is Difficult to Diagnose Comorbidities?

Mental illness and substance abuse share many of the same basic symptoms. Is a person suffering from sleep issues due to alcoholism or depression? Do their lungs hurt due to tobacco use, or is it cocaine use? While these are obvious examples, the nuances of comorbidity are far more complex. Correct diagnoses are crucial as a misdiagnosis delays proper treatment and could even hurt the individual.

Treatment for Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illnesses

These are the most common methods of comorbid substance abuse recovery:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Cognitive behavioral therapy is centered around building better habits and coping mechanisms. CBT works by increasing the awareness one has of their mental state and implementing healthy techniques to stay positive. For co-occurring disorders, this means treating the cravings and urges that come with drug use. CBT is also used for comorbid psychiatric disorders.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Dialectical therapy helps teach social skills while increasing the awareness of one’s mental state. Much like CBT, it’s a multifaceted method. Plus, for co-occurring disorders, the focus on awareness helps uncover potential triggers that lead to drug use.
• Therapeutic Communities (TC): Therapeutic communities contain people that have struggled with and gained control of their addiction and mental health. They live together and lean on each other as support. TCs limit the amount of negative exposure and influence a person has. This means a person with a co-occurring disorder can be surrounded by positive influence and resources. A therapeutic community isn’t just for dependencies, it can also help soothe the symptoms of comorbid psychiatric disorders.
• Medications: Medication is required to manage the long-term symptoms of addiction and mental health. Some require more than others, but medication is essential to treating co-occurring disorders. Comorbidities in mental health can be managed with consistent treatment and therapy.