By Melissa Riddle Chalos

For people of all ages, the term “mental illness” may feel stigmatizing. This can be especially true if you don’t have the information you need to understand how mental health is a large and essential piece of the whole person that needs attention and healing. 

During the teenage years, especially in today’s social media-saturated culture, the stigma of mental health issues can feel even more “extra,” as if it’s something to be kept hidden from view. Adolescence is one of the most crucial times of development, physically, emotionally, and socially. During this time, teens face many challenges that can lead to the development of co-occurring mental health disorders. If not addressed, these can follow you into early adulthood. 

What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Co-occurring disorders are conditions that coexist or cohabitate with each other, such as a mental health issue that contributes to a substance use disorder. And they’re more common than you think. 

Co-occurring disorders are so common in fact, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 9.2 million adults in the US have co-occurring disorders. Studies show that 90% of those with a substance use disorder — like alcohol or drug misuse or dependency — have at least one co-occurring mental health disorder, whether officially diagnosed or not.

How Do Co-Occurring Disorders Happen?

Research suggests there are many common, genetic risk factors that can contribute to developing co-occurring disorders. Genetic factors, as reported by the American Psychological Association (APA), compose at least half of your susceptibility to addiction. A gene can also influence how you respond to a drug and whether or not using the drug makes you feel good. 

Additionally, environmental factors such as childhood abuse, trauma or neglect, poverty, racism, bereavement, social isolation, and long-term stress, can cause genetic changes that are passed down through generations. But these environmental factors, handed down through generations, don’t always take that long. Children and adolescents begin showing signs early in their development. The Child Mind Institute reports the following signs of trauma in children:  

• Obsession with death or safety
• Sleeping issues, insomnia
• Eating issues
• Trouble regulating emotions 
• School avoidance 

Co-Occurring Disorders in Teens and Young Adults

Among the most prevalent co-occurring disorders in teens and young adults are anxiety and depression. These two conditions often overlap, creating a complex interplay of symptoms that can significantly impact your well-being. To better understand, here’s a breakdown of the most common co-occurring disorders teens and young adults experience:

Anxiety Disorders – These affect 31.9% of adolescents ages 13-18 according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America and often coexist with depression in teens. The chronic worry and fear that comes with anxiety can lead to feelings of hopelessness and sadness, which are characteristic of depression. The combined burden of these disorders may intensify emotional distress, impairing daily functioning and hindering social relationships.

Substance Abuse Disorders – These commonly accompany mental health issues in teenagers. Adolescents may turn to substances as a way to cope with the emotional turmoil linked to disorders like anxiety and depression. Addiction and co-occurring disorders are not uncommon. A 2022 SAMHSA report revealed that 1 in 6 — adults and teens alike — experience a substance use disorder. Abusing drugs or alcohol not only amplifies existing mental health challenges, but heightens the risk to teens physically, sexually, and legally. 

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – This is another condition frequently riding sidecar with mental health disorders in teens. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 13% of adolescents ages 12-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD. The impulsivity and difficulty concentrating associated with ADHD increases stress exponentially, and, in turn, makes teens and young adults more vulnerable to conditions like anxiety and depression.

What are other co-occurring disorders in teens’ and young adults’ lives? In addition to these most common co-occurring disorders, adolescents and young adults can experience a wide range of mental health issues, including: 

• Depression
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Social phobias
• Eating disorders
• Self-harm or suicidal thoughts/ideation
• Bipolar disorder 
• OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
• Schizophrenia 

Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment for Teens & Young Adults

Recognizing and addressing co-occurring mental health disorders in teens is crucial for effective intervention. Comprehensive and integrated approaches that address both the mental health and substance abuse components, when present, are essential. 

Why? Because getting off substances on your own, without any support, can be dangerous and rarely results in long-term success. Likewise, getting medication for depression, for example, without exploring the cause behind it, might help in the beginning, but long-term success would be unlikely. Adolescents and young adults facing these complex challenges need care and treatment tailored specifically for you. 

And that is exactly why — here at Claudia Black Young Adult Center — we excel at treating young adults 18-26 who struggle with dual diagnosis, even if you have tried and failed treatment many times before. We thoroughly assess each individual and use trauma-focused and brain-based therapies to find and treat the root causes behind these distinctive issues. 

Start Over at Claudia Black Young Adult Center

If you or your teen/young adult is at risk for substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders, we get you. We understand that you are more than a mental health disorder. You are more than substance abuse. And we are here to help you take that first step. There is never a better time than now — with your whole life ahead of you, ready for the taking — to dig deep and rediscover your purpose and find peace. Here at Claudia Black Young Adult Center, we can get you there. Reach out today to learn how.