ADHD and Addiction
ADHD frequently co-occurs with substance use disorder.
Read more →Depression and Addiction
Depression and substance use disorder co-occur at very high rates, and the relationship runs both ways — depression increases the risk of substance use, and chronic substance use worsens depression.
Signs of self-medication
When use is doing a job.
Substance use that started as a way to manage symptoms eventually creates its own problem. These are the patterns we see most often in patients with co-occurring depression and addiction:
- Drinking or using to numb persistent sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness
- Using stimulants to overcome low energy or motivation
- Using opioids or sedatives to escape emotional pain
- Sleep changes tied to use — sleeping too much or too little
- Withdrawal periods that intensify depressive symptoms
- Loss of interest in activities that previously brought pleasure
- Thoughts of hopelessness or self-harm that surface during withdrawal or use
Integrated treatment approach
Both conditions, one plan.
Clinical sequence
Integrated treatment addresses depression and substance use disorder at the same time rather than one after the other. Care includes a full behavioral-health and medical assessment, medical stabilization, and evidence-based therapy such as CBT and DBT, paired with medication management — typically SSRIs or SNRIs — introduced once a client is medically stable. If a client reports thoughts of self-harm, the clinical team creates a personalized safety plan and involves emergency services immediately if there is immediate danger.
DSM-5: F32, F33
Therapies we use
Evidence-based for this pairing.
Different condition pairs respond to different therapies. The modalities below have the strongest evidence base for co-occurring depression and addiction.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
Insurance coverage
Typically covered.
Commercial insurance plans typically cover integrated dual-diagnosis treatment for depression and substance use, including behavioral-health and medical assessment, medication management, and evidence-based therapy. Our admissions team verifies your specific plan's coverage as part of that first conversation.
Coverage is determined by medical necessity. Call admissions and we'll verify your specific plan as part of that first conversation.
Other dual-diagnosis conditions
More conditions we treat alongside SUD.
Anxiety and Addiction
Anxiety disorders — generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, and specific phobias — commonly co-occur with substance use disorder.
Read more →Bipolar Disorder and Addiction
Bipolar disorder and substance use disorder frequently occur together.
Read more →Personality Disorders and Addiction
Personality disorders — long-standing patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating that create ongoing distress or conflict — frequently co-occur with substance use disorder.
Read more →PTSD, Trauma, and Addiction
PTSD and substance use disorder co-occur at high rates.
Read more →Sleep Disorders and Addiction
Disrupted sleep is one of the most common co-occurring issues in addiction treatment.
Read more →
Take the next step
Treat depression and addiction and substance use together.
Admissions answers 24/7. We work with commercial insurance and verify your specific coverage on the call.