Mental Illness & Substance Abuse
What is the relation between Mental Illness and Substance Abuse?
The most common substances abused by patients with serious mental illness are cigarettes and alcohol. Comorbid substance-related disorders are associated with many problems that can impact the clinical course of mental illness, including:
- worsening of symptoms
- poor treatment compliance
- more frequent hospitalization
- increased likelihood of suicide
- more frequent use of supportive and medical services
Substance abuse may also impair a person’s judgment beyond the effect of the mental disorder, leading to other complications often associated with substance abuse, including loss of consciousness, automobile accidents, and criminal behavior.
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