Let’s face it-drugs do something for us. If it didn’t, no one would use them. With repeated use over time, short term relief is replaced by long term effects which becomes a problem all its own. Our natural ability to learn and incorporate new positive coping and social skills hits a brick wall; the result stifles our creativity and inhibits our growth.

When drug or alcohol problems exist with other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or bi-polar disorders it’s referred to as a co-occurring condition. Treating just the substance use disorder without addressing the underlying mental health concern (or vice versa) is not very effective. For a positive outcome with long term emotional and physical benefits, it’s best to work on both problems together.