We all understand that depression does not exist in a vacuum. Sometimes, it may be the only diagnosis a person has, but there is still a lot of factors that come with that diagnosis. Many times, however, there are other things going on. Some people might also have high blood pressure or diabetes. Maybe they have a different physical disability. Today, I want to talk about a particular combination – depression and substance use disorders.
In basic terms, a substance use disorder involves using a drug that has not been prescribed for an intended purpose. Some drugs, like heroin and meth, are illegal across the board. Some others, like opioids or benzodiazepines, are legal but must be prescribed for a specific purpose. Those suffering from depression (and other mental illnesses) also have a strong chance of having a substance use disorder. A lot of times this is not discussed, but it is starting to get more attention. In the past, depression and substance use disorders have been treated in different places, and that has caused a lot of frustration, because treatment for one can help with treatment for the other. Sometimes it is hard to determine what came first. Was the person depressed, and then started to self-medicate with a drug? Or, was the person self-medicating and then got depressed?
Regardless of how it happens, the important thing is to recognize that these things can happen at the same time. As always, it is super important to remember to treat the entire person, not just the most obvious problem. We need to demand that treatment for depression and treatment of a substance use disorder can be done at the same place and at the same time. We need to understand that substance use disorders are common in mental illness. Lastly, we also need to understand that like mental illness, substance use disorders are NOT a sign of bad behavior or choices, but is also a real group of illnesses.