In 2024, 21.2 million U.S. adults (8.1 percent) had both a substance use disorder and a mental illness, according to a government survey. This proportion has remained steady from 2021 to 2024.
However, co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness varies from age group to age group. While only 3.8 percent of adults aged 50 or older reported both a substance use disorder and mental illness, this figure was 11.3 percent for adults aged 26-49 and 13.3 percent for adults aged 18-25.
Many people diagnosed with a mental illness start misusing substances to fight symptoms related to their illness or deal with the side effects of medicine used to treat their illness.
When should you get help? Many times, if you’re experiencing a lot of anxiety, excessive mood swings, or feel disconnected from regular activities, it may be a good idea to seek professional help. Learn about these symptoms and more by reading “Mental health: What's normal, what's not” from the Mayo Clinic.
Online Resources
As the conversation about mental health has gotten louder in recent years, the number of resources online dedicated to awareness and treatment have also increased.
Here are a few below:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) Helpline
This helpline is a free, confidential treatment referral and information service for people and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in English and Spanish. Learn more (https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Individuals may call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which also features a Spanish language sub-network.
CDC Treatment Resources List
The CDC has a page on their site that lists a variety of free and confidential resources to help you connect with a professional counselor near you. See it here:
https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/caring/index.html
MentalHealth.gov
This resource-rich website also features a wealth of information on the basics about mental health, the different disorders, and much more.
Help for Mental Illnesses (National Institute of Mental Health)
This resource page features helplines, information about finding a provider or treatment, info on how to decide if a provider is right for you, and much more.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/
Classroom Resource: Nurturing My Mental & Emotional Health (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
This activity helps promote mindfulness and teaches teens how to practice health-enhancing behaviors, which can support better management of stress and reduce the chances of exploring substance use as an alternative.
https://teens.drugabuse.gov/teachers/lessonplans/nurturing-my-mental-emotional-health