What We Treat

Disorders are considered co-occurring when they happen together, at the same time. Mental health and substance use disorders are often co-occurring, with mental health struggles often preceding the problematic use of drugs and/or alcohol. When these problems co-occur, it can complicate the treatment needed. It is necessary to understand how each problem impacts the other in order for an appropriate treatment approach to be identified. For example, if a teen begins drinking heavily at parties due to intense social anxiety, it would be difficult to get them to stop drinking without giving them more effective tools to address their social anxiety. At Evolve, our clinicians carefully assess the history of the mental health and substance use problems to understand the factors driving each of them and create an appropriate treatment plan.

If you’re the parent of a teenager with a mental illness or a substance use disorder, it’s important to understand that stress, isolation, and boredom can affect both mental health disorders and substance use disorders. Teens with major depressive disorder and/or anxiety have an elevated risk of addiction or substance abuse, and vice versa. Teens with addiction or substance abuse issues are at elevated risk of developing a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety. That’s why finding a treatment center that can treat both at the same time is essential for the long-term health and wellness of your teenager and family.