Health and Medicine

Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances , including alcohol and illicit drugs LINK BETWEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH :  When you have both a substance abuse problem and a mental health issue such as depression , bipolar disorder or anxiety , it is called a co-occuring disorder or dual diagnosis. Dealing with substance abuse , alcoholism , or drug addiction is never easy, and it's even more difficult when you're also struggling with mental health problems. In co-occuring disorders , both the mental health issue and the drug or alcohol addiction have their own unique symptoms that may get in the way of your ability to function at work or school, maintain a stable home life , handle life's difficulties and relate to other's.  When a mental health problem goes untreated , the substance abuse problems usually increase too. But you are not alone. Roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by su...