Substance Abuse and Mental Illness are More Connected Than We Know

by Lauren Frieson

May 10, 2024

Certain members of society assume that people struggling with either mental illness or substance abuse have nothing to contribute to society, which is simply not true. 

Many people in the world struggle with mental illness; however, did you know that 50% of people struggling with a severe mental illness are struggling with substance abuse as well? Some of the best artists, authors, and musicians struggle with either a mental illness or a form of addiction.

When someone struggles with mental illnesses, it can be harder for them to stop abusing substances; this is because people with mental illnesses often abuse alcohol and drugs as a way to cope.

Elizabeth West, the Chief Clinical Officer at Maryhaven was interviewed for this article. Maryhaven is an addiction treatment center in Columbus, Ohio. 

Ms. West leads all clinical operations at Maryhaven including counselors, patient access representatives, patient care advocates, case managers, school-based counselors, and staff working within the criminal legal system. 

Ms. West also oversees continuum care. This includes triage, detox, short and long-term residential, high-intensity outpatient, intensive outpatient, and outpatient services.

According to West, her job is “to make sure all programs are running effectively and efficiently while ensuring the patients are treated well and have a positive experience while in our care.”

When someone uses substances as a way to cope with symptoms connected to their mental illness, it is called self-medicating. Elizabeth West gave insight on why people self-medicate. “You will often find relapse, or return to use of the substances, with people who are addicted to drugs. Part of the reason is that their underlying mental health symptoms are not being treated and the patient returns to the substance to find relief from their mental health symptoms.”

Ms. West also states, “A majority of patients who have a substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental illness and often use substances to self-medicate to relieve some of the symptoms of their mental illness.”

If left untreated, substance abuse will get worse along with mental illness. Using substances can even trigger new symptoms connected to one’s mental illness and decrease the effectiveness of psychotic medications. 

When one is struggling with mental illness and substance abuse both should be focused on simultaneously. They may treat one’s mental health by using medication, individual or group counseling, self-help measures, lifestyle changes, and support from their inner circle. 

“We use screening tools that screen for depression, anxiety, and mood disorders to determine if they have a mental health concern on top of their substance use disorder. We also have Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners who are trained to prescribe medication to treat mental illness,” Ms. West explained how Maryhaven goes about diagnosing and treating mental illness combined with substance abuse.

To treat substance abuse they may use detoxification, managing withdrawal symptoms, behavioral therapy, and support groups.

After leaving Maryhaven, Ms. West explained that patients have the opportunity for continuum care. She even explained what continuum care looks like. “We have a continuum of care at Maryhaven. The typical journey for a patient through our continuum of care is Medicated Detox, short-term Residential Treatment, long-term Residential Treatment, High-Intensity Outpatient Treatment, Intensive Outpatient Treatment, and Outpatient Counseling. After leaving Maryhaven, patients can continue in community groups, such as AA (alcohol anonymous) or NA (narcotics anonymous).”

Maryhaven even offers sober living arrangements. “They may also choose to live in a sober living environment. These living arrangements allow people to have housing within a community where no drugs or alcohol is allowed and there are people available to provide support through their recovery journey.”

Ms. West emphasized the importance of treating someone’s mental disorders properly so they can stay clean. Everyone deserves the chance to get the help they need.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction or mental illness, you can call one of the following lines:

Ohio Care Line- 1-800-720-9616

Ohio Addiction Hotline- 866-210-1303