Understanding Dual Diagnosis: Why Treating Mental Health and Substance Use Together Matters
For decades, the healthcare system treated substance use disorders and mental health conditions as two entirely separate issues. If someone sought help for depression while also struggling with alcohol use, they were often told to “get sober first” before their mental health could be addressed. Or conversely, their mental health was treated while their addiction was largely ignored. Today, we know that this siloed approach is not only ineffective but can be actively harmful. The reality is that mental health and substance use are deeply intertwined.
