Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders: What They Are and How Agape Health and Wellness Treats Them in Florida
When someone is living with both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time, it's called a co-occurring disorder (also known as a dual diagnosis). This combination is more common than most people realize, and treating only one half of the problem rarely leads to lasting recovery.
At Agape Health and Wellness, we specialize in integrated treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. We proudly serve communities throughout Florida, with our primary treatment center located in Jacksonville, FL.
This guide walks through what co-occurring disorders are, the most common combinations we treat, and answers to the questions we hear most often from clients and families.
What Is a Co-Occurring Disorder?
A co-occurring disorder happens when a person has a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder simultaneously. The two conditions interact with and often worsen each other, which is why treating them separately — or one at a time — often fails. Integrated treatment addresses both conditions together, in one coordinated care plan.
Common Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Combinations
Agape Health and Wellness treats a wide range of co-occurring conditions, including:
Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder
Anxiety Disorders and Substance Use Disorder
Bipolar Disorder and Substance Abuse
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and Addiction
Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder and Substance Abuse
OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) and Substance Use
Schizophrenia and Substance Use Disorder
ADHD and Substance Abuse
Eating Disorders and Substance Use Disorder
Panic Disorder and Alcohol or Drug Dependence
Major Depressive Disorder and Opioid Addiction
If you or a loved one is dealing with any combination of a mental health condition alongside drug or alcohol use, our clinical team can help you understand what's happening and build a personalized treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Co-Occurring Disorders
What does co-occurring mental health disorder mean?
It means a person is experiencing a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, at the same time as a substance use disorder. Both conditions require treatment together for the best chance at long-term recovery.
What is the difference between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorder?
These terms are used interchangeably. "Dual diagnosis" and "co-occurring disorder" both describe the presence of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder in the same person at the same time.
What is an example of a co-occurring disorder?
A common example is someone with generalized anxiety disorder who also has alcohol use disorder, using alcohol to self-medicate their anxiety symptoms.
Is addiction considered a co-occurring disorder?
Addiction (substance use disorder) is one half of a co-occurring disorder. It becomes "co-occurring" when it exists alongside a separate mental health diagnosis, such as depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder.
Which comes first, mental illness or addiction?
It varies by individual. Sometimes a mental health condition develops first and substance use follows as a coping mechanism. Other times, prolonged substance use triggers or worsens an underlying mental health condition. Either way, both need to be addressed.
Can substance abuse cause mental illness, or does mental illness cause substance abuse?
Both directions are possible. Substance use can trigger mental health symptoms or unmask a pre-existing condition, and untreated mental illness can lead someone toward substance use as a form of self-medication.
Why do people with mental illness turn to drugs or alcohol?
Many individuals use substances to numb emotional pain, quiet anxious thoughts, or temporarily escape symptoms of depression, trauma, or other conditions. Unfortunately, this often deepens both problems over time.
What mental illnesses are most commonly linked to addiction?
Depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and personality disorders are among the most frequently seen alongside substance use disorders.
Can you have depression and addiction at the same time?
Yes. Depression and addiction are one of the most common co-occurring disorder combinations we treat at Agape Health and Wellness.
What is anxiety and substance use disorder?
This refers to someone experiencing an anxiety disorder (such as generalized anxiety, panic disorder, or social anxiety) alongside a dependence on drugs or alcohol, often used to manage anxious symptoms.
Is PTSD a co-occurring disorder with addiction?
Yes. PTSD and substance use disorder frequently occur together, as individuals with trauma histories often use substances to cope with flashbacks, hypervigilance, or emotional numbness.
Bipolar disorder and substance abuse — how are they connected?
People with bipolar disorder may use substances during manic or depressive episodes to manage extreme mood swings, which can worsen the instability of both conditions without proper treatment.
How is a co-occurring disorder diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically involves a comprehensive clinical assessment by a licensed mental health professional, reviewing symptom history, substance use patterns, and how the two conditions interact.
How do doctors treat two disorders at once?
This is done through integrated treatment, where mental health and addiction specialists work together on one coordinated care plan that may include therapy, medication management, and support groups addressing both conditions simultaneously.
Can you be misdiagnosed if you have a co-occurring disorder?
Yes, misdiagnosis can happen if only one condition is assessed. That's why a thorough evaluation by a team experienced in co-occurring disorders, like the clinicians at Agape Health and Wellness, is so important.
What is integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders?
Integrated treatment means both the mental health condition and the substance use disorder are treated at the same time, by the same coordinated care team, rather than being treated separately or sequentially.
How do you treat co-occurring mental health and substance abuse?
Treatment typically combines individual therapy, group therapy, medication management (when appropriate), relapse prevention planning, and family support, all tailored to address both conditions together.
What is a dual diagnosis treatment program?
A dual diagnosis treatment program is a specialized care model designed specifically to treat mental health and substance use disorders together, rather than as separate issues.
Do I need separate treatment for mental illness and addiction, or can they be treated together?
They should be treated together whenever possible. Treating only one condition significantly increases the risk of relapse in the other.
Does insurance cover dual diagnosis treatment?
Many insurance plans do offer coverage for dual diagnosis treatment. Our admissions team at Agape Health and Wellness can help verify your benefits and explain your options.
How common are co-occurring disorders?
Co-occurring disorders are widespread. A significant portion of individuals with a substance use disorder also experience a mental health condition, and vice versa.
What percentage of people with mental illness also have a substance use disorder?
Research consistently shows a substantial overlap between mental illness and substance use disorders, which is why integrated, dual-diagnosis-informed care has become the clinical standard.
Agape Health and Wellness: Serving Florida, Centered in Jacksonville
Agape Health and Wellness proudly provides co-occurring mental health and substance use treatment to individuals and families across the major cities in Florida, including:
Jacksonville, FL (our main treatment center)
Orlando, FL
Tampa, FL
Miami, FL
Tallahassee, FL
Gainesville, FL
St. Augustine, FL
Daytona Beach, FL
Wherever you're located in Florida, our team is ready to help you take the first step toward integrated, compassionate care.
Get Help for Co-Occurring Disorders Today
You don't have to face a mental health condition and substance use alone — and you don't have to treat them one at a time. Agape Health and Wellness offers integrated dual diagnosis treatment designed around your specific combination of symptoms and history.
Contact Agape Health and Wellness today to schedule a confidential assessment and learn how our Jacksonville, FL-based team can support your recovery.
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