The Connection Between Mental Health and Addiction

At Victory Recovery Partners, a network of five addiction-recovery centers on Long Island, New York, we recognize that there is a connection between a patient’s mental health and their issues with substance use and addiction. This makes sense, as it has been proven that addiction and mental illness share overlapping brain pathways. Therefore, our practice has been built around a model of providing total and complete care under one roof. This includes medication-assisted treatment, behavioral health services, psychiatric services and wellness services. By offering all of these services to our patients, we are helping to ensure that any co-occurring disorders are being treated to further improve a patient’s chances of success in recovery.  

As explained above, there is certainly a connection between mental health and addiction. A surprising statistic is that almost 38 percent of adults who are battling substance use disorders also have issues with their mental health. Also, 18 percent of adults with mental illness experience substance use disorder. This is important to note, because it impacts the way in which we provide our services to patients. At Victory, we recognize that treating substance use disorder and addiction goes beyond just treating addiction. Rather, through behavioral health counseling, we help our patients to uncover the emotional and psychological issues that are fueling that patient's addiction.  

Both mental health and addiction issues affect the same areas of the brain. Chemicals in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin, which help with our moods and emotions, can cause addiction and mental health issues if not at the proper levels, such as an imbalance.  

In addition to the chemical imbalances in the brain, there is also a connection between addiction, mental health issues, and trauma. It is certainly not surprising that if a patient has experienced a great deal of trauma in their life, such as during childhood, the patient will be more likely to develop substance use disorders and have mental health issues. By working with our experienced behavioral health counselors, our patients are able to dig deep into their past and uncover the trauma and experiences that may have contributed to their addiction as adults.  

In treating one’s addiction, as well as their mental health issues, we must not forget just how important support is for the patient. This needed support goes beyond what is provided during counseling. For a patient to truly thrive, it is important that he or she receives support from family, friends, support groups, and peer recovery programs. At Victory, we offer group therapy as a means for helping patients to feel like they belong – that they are important, valued, and not alone.  

There is a very strong connection between mental health disorders and substance use disorders. As the same chemicals in the brain are affected, it is not surprising that so many patients have both substance use and mental health disorders. To help our patients succeed in their recovery, our model of combining multiple treatment methods under one roof has proven successful, making Victory such a unique and effective treatment center. By getting to the root of the issues, such as identifying past trauma, we are able to help our patients thrive in their recovery. For more information on Victory, visit our website www.victoryrp.com