What Causes Concurrent Disorders

Concurrent Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders: An Information Guide

There is no simple cause of concurrent disorders. Each person’s situation is different. Here are some reasons why a person might develop both a mental health and a substance use problem:

• Some people who have a mental health problem may use substances to feel better. While substance use is very risky in such cases, it can help people forget their problems or relieve symptoms, at least in the short-term. People sometimes talk about using substances for “self-medication.”
• Some effects of substance use can mimic symptoms of a mental health problem, such as depression, anxiety, impulsivity or hallucinations. This is sometimes described as substance-induced mental health problems.
• Substance use can cause harmful changes in people’s lives and relationships. For example, substance use problems may cause a person to lose his or her job. Mental health problems may result from these indirect effects of substance use.
• For some people, a common factor may lead to both mental health and substance use problems. This factor may be biological. It may also be an event, such as emotional or physical trauma.

For a person whose mental health is fragile, even moderate amounts of substance use may create problems.

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