9781422282458

CHAPTER ONE

SUBSTANCES AND MENTAL ILLNESS

Substance use and mental health disorders often go hand in hand. Like the old riddle about “which came first, the chicken or the egg,” it can be difficult to determine where the problem began. Sometimes, people with mental health problems turn to substances to self-medicate , using drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with their condition. But it’s also true that many substance users may experience mental health problems as a result of their use. What’s more, there are many risk factors that are common to both substance use and mental health disorders. In other words, it may not be a “chicken or egg” issue at all, but rather something else that explains both the chicken and the egg. For example, if you have a history of either mental health or substance use in your family, come from an unstable home environment, or have experienced trauma, you are at greater risk for both conditions.

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