A family can notice that something is wrong without knowing exactly what is causing it.
A parent may be drinking more than usual. They may seem sad, worried, angry, or distant. They may have trouble sleeping or stop doing things they once enjoyed. At the same time, they may be using alcohol or drugs to cope with stress, painful feelings, or other problems.
For families, this can be confusing.
Is substance use causing mental health problems? Is the mental health problem making substance use worse? Or are both problems happening at the same time?
Sometimes, the answer is both.
Mental health conditions and substance use disorders can occur together. When they do, professionals often use the term co-occurring disorders. This does not mean that every person who drinks or uses a substance has a mental health disorder. It also does not mean that every mental health symptom is caused by substance use.
It means that both areas may need attention.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explains that mental health and substance use problems can occur together and that treatment may need to address both conditions.
For parents and caregivers, understanding this connection can be an important first step.
What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?
Co-occurring disorders happen when a person has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder.
The two problems can look different from person to person.
For example, someone may live with:
- Depression and alcohol use disorder
- Anxiety and prescription drug misuse
- Post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol misuse
- Bipolar disorder and substance use disorder
- Another mental health condition alongside problematic drug or alcohol use
There is no single combination that defines co-occurring disorders.
A person may also have symptoms that are hard to understand without a full assessment. Alcohol and other substances can affect sleep, mood, thinking, and behavior. At the same time, mental health symptoms may make it harder for someone to manage substance use.
That is one reason it can be risky for families to try to diagnose the problem on their own.
A professional can look at the person’s history, symptoms, substance use, health, medications, and daily life before deciding what kind of care may be appropriate.
Why Mental Health and Substance Use Can Become Connected
There is no single reason why mental health and substance use problems occur together.
For some people, substance use may begin as a way to cope with difficult emotions.
A person dealing with anxiety may drink to feel calmer. Someone experiencing emotional pain may use drugs to escape difficult thoughts. A person with trauma may use alcohol because it seems to help them sleep.
But a substance that seems helpful for a short time can create new problems.
Regular substance use can affect sleep, relationships, work, physical health, and emotional well-being. As these problems grow, stress can increase. That stress may then make it harder to stop using the substance.
This can create a cycle.
Emotional pain → substance use → new problems → more stress → more substance use
The cycle does not look the same for everyone. Still, recognizing that both problems may be connected can help a person and their family look for the right kind of support.
How Can This Affect Children?
When a parent is struggling, children may notice changes even when adults do not talk about the problem.
A child may notice that a parent is:
- More tired than usual
- Often upset or angry
- Less involved at home
- Missing family activities
- Sleeping at unusual times
- Acting differently after drinking or using drugs
- Having trouble keeping routines
- Having frequent arguments with another family member
Children may not understand why these changes are happening.
Instead, they may blame themselves.
A child might wonder:
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Why is Mom or Dad different today?”
“Will things be okay tomorrow?”
This is why a stable and supportive home matters.
American SPCC has discussed how parental substance use can affect children’s emotional health, including anxiety, sadness, behavior, school performance, and relationships.
However, it is important not to assume that every child exposed to parental substance use will develop a mental health problem.
Children are different.
Support from safe adults, family members, teachers, counselors, and other trusted people can help.
Children Need Reassurance, Not Adult Responsibilities
One of the most important things parents can do is remind children that adult problems are not the child’s responsibility.
Children should not have to manage a parent’s drinking, drug use, or mental health symptoms.
They should not have to:
- Hide a parent’s substance use
- Take care of younger siblings because an adult cannot
- Make excuses for a parent’s behavior
- Handle adult arguments
- Feel responsible for keeping the family together
Age-appropriate honesty can help.
Parents do not need to share every detail with a child. But children often benefit from simple, calm explanations.
For example:
“Mom is having a hard time right now, but this is not your fault.”
Or:
“The adults are working on the problem. You are safe, and you can always talk to me.”
The exact words will depend on the child’s age and the situation.
The goal is to reduce fear and confusion without placing adult problems on the child.
When a parent is struggling with addiction, children may notice changes in the home even when adults do not talk about the problem. Learn more about how parental addiction affects children and what families can do to create more stability.
What If the Parent Also Has a Mental Health Problem?
This is where the situation can become more complex.
A parent may be dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or another mental health condition while also struggling with alcohol or drug use.
Treating only one side of the problem may leave the other side untreated.
For example, if substance use is addressed but severe anxiety is ignored, the person may still struggle with the feelings that were connected to their substance use.
Likewise, if someone receives mental health care but their substance use is not addressed, recovery may be harder.
This is why co-occurring disorder treatment can be important for people who have both mental health and substance use concerns.
SAMHSA recommends integrated care that addresses mental health and substance use together. Its guidance notes that integrated treatment can improve the quality of care and support better outcomes.
The right treatment plan will depend on the person’s needs.
What Does Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment Look Like?
There is no single treatment plan that works for everyone.
A professional may begin with an assessment.
This can help identify:
- Mental health symptoms
- Substance use patterns
- Physical health concerns
- Past treatment
- Current medications
- Family and social support
- Work or school concerns
- Safety concerns
- The person’s goals for recovery
From there, the care team can recommend the right level of support.
Treatment may include therapy, medication when appropriate, substance use counseling, peer support, family support, outpatient care, residential care, or other services.
Some people may need a higher level of care at first. Others may be able to receive treatment while continuing to live at home.
The important point is that treatment should be based on the person’s needs rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.
Why Treating Both Problems Matters
Mental health and substance use can affect many parts of daily life.
A person may have trouble with:
- Family relationships
- Parenting
- Work
- Sleep
- Money
- Physical health
- Emotional control
- Communication
- Daily routines
When these problems happen together, the effects can spread across the family.
That does not mean recovery is impossible.
It means the person may need support that looks at the whole picture.
SAMHSA describes integrated care as a way to coordinate treatment for mental health and substance use concerns rather than treating each issue as if it exists alone.
For someone looking for treatment options, it can be useful to ask whether the provider has experience working with both conditions.
What Can Families Do?
Family members often want to help but do not know where to begin.
The first step is to avoid trying to fix everything alone.
A family member can encourage the person to speak with a healthcare or behavioral health professional.
It can also help to:
Listen without attacking
Blame and shame can make a difficult situation harder.
Try to listen and speak calmly. You do not have to agree with everything the person says to show that you care.
Set healthy boundaries
Supporting someone does not mean accepting unsafe behavior.
Families can set clear limits around things such as drinking around children, driving while impaired, violence, or other unsafe situations.
Protect children from unsafe situations
Children need safety first.
If substance use or mental health symptoms create an unsafe home environment, adults should seek professional help and make a plan to protect the child.
Encourage professional care
A person may not be ready to seek treatment right away.
Family members can still offer information, transportation, help with scheduling, or emotional support when appropriate.
Take care of yourself
Family members can become exhausted while trying to help someone else.
Talking with a counselor, trusted support person, or family support group can help caregivers deal with their own stress.
When Should a Family Seek Professional Help?
There is no need to wait until a situation becomes a crisis.
Professional support may be worth considering when substance use or mental health symptoms begin affecting:
- Parenting
- Work
- School
- Relationships
- Sleep
- Physical health
- Daily responsibilities
- Family safety
A person does not need to “hit rock bottom” before asking for help.
Early support may give a family more options.
It can also help separate facts from fears.
For example, a family member may think that a parent needs inpatient treatment when an outpatient program may be appropriate. Another person may believe that a problem can be managed at home when medical care is actually needed.
A qualified professional can help assess the situation.
What Questions Should You Ask a Treatment Provider?
Choosing care can feel overwhelming.
Families can make the process easier by asking direct questions.
Consider asking:
- Do you treat both mental health and substance use concerns?
- How do you assess co-occurring conditions?
- What level of care do you provide?
- Do you offer family support?
- How do you involve caregivers when appropriate?
- What happens after the main treatment program ends?
- How do you handle changes in symptoms during treatment?
- What should we do if there is a crisis?
The answers can help families understand whether the provider is equipped to address the full situation.
Recovery Can Help More Than One Person
When a parent begins treatment, the benefits can reach beyond that individual.
A parent who receives the right support may be better able to:
- Build healthy routines
- Communicate with family
- Manage difficult emotions
- Stay engaged with children
- Make safer choices
- Work toward long-term recovery
That does not mean treatment will immediately fix every family problem.
Trust may take time to rebuild.
Children may still need support.
Relationships may need work.
But getting help can create a starting point.
For families looking for information about treatment options, southernliveoakwellness.com can be another resource to review when exploring care for mental health and substance use concerns.
Recovery Is a Family Process, Too
A parent may be the person receiving treatment, but the whole family can be affected by the changes that come with addiction and mental health struggles.
That is why recovery should not only focus on stopping substance use.
It should also look at what helps a person build a stable life.
That may include healthier routines, better coping skills, stronger relationships, ongoing mental health care, and support from people who understand the recovery process.
Children may also need a safe space to talk about what they have experienced.
Families do not have to pretend that everything is fine.
They can focus on small steps.
A calm conversation.
A visit with a healthcare professional.
A therapy appointment.
A safer routine at home.
A trusted adult who can support a child.
Each step can matter.
Recovery can also bring changes for children, especially when a family has already experienced repeated cycles of substance use and relapse. Guidance on supporting children during recovery can help families understand what children may be feeling.
What Families Should Remember
Mental health and addiction can affect the same person at the same time.
When that happens, treating only one problem may not address everything the person and family are facing.
Co-occurring disorders can affect relationships, parenting, work, health, and daily life. Children may also feel the effects when a home becomes unpredictable or stressful.
But families are not powerless.
Support is available.
The first step may be as simple as talking with a qualified professional and asking what kind of care makes sense for the situation.
No family needs to understand every part of addiction or mental health before reaching out.
They only need to recognize that something is not working and that help may be needed.
Recovery does not happen overnight.
But getting the right support can help a family move toward a safer, healthier, and more stable future.
A parent’s mental and emotional health can influence the atmosphere at home, which is why parental wellness matters for the whole family.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Can mental health problems and addiction happen at the same time?
Yes. Mental health conditions and substance use disorders can occur together. When both are present, professionals may describe them as co-occurring disorders. Treatment may need to address both concerns rather than focusing on only one.
2) Can a parent’s addiction affect a child’s mental health?
Yes, parental substance use can affect a child’s emotional and mental well-being. Children may experience stress, fear, sadness, confusion, or changes in behavior when home life becomes unstable. The effect varies from child to child, and supportive adults can help reduce the impact.
3) What is co-occurring disorder treatment?
Co-occurring disorder treatment addresses mental health and substance use problems together. The exact approach depends on the person’s symptoms, health, substance use, and other needs. Care may include therapy, medication, counseling, peer support, family support, or different levels of treatment.
4) Should parents hide addiction from their children?
Parents should protect children from adult problems while giving them age-appropriate support and reassurance. Children do not need every detail. But they should know that they are not responsible for a parent’s substance use or mental health problems.
5) When should a family seek professional help?
A family should consider professional help when substance use or mental health symptoms begin affecting safety, parenting, health, relationships, or daily responsibilities. It is not necessary to wait for a crisis before asking for help.
6) Can someone recover from co-occurring disorders?
Yes, many people receive treatment and work toward recovery from co-occurring mental health and substance use problems. Recovery can take time, and the right plan varies by person. Ongoing support may be an important part of maintaining progress.
Important Resources
If you or someone you know is dealing with mental health and substance use concerns, professional guidance can help.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides information about co-occurring disorders, treatment options, and ways to find behavioral health services.
For immediate mental health crisis support in the United States, call or text 988.
For substance use treatment referrals and information, SAMHSA’s National Helpline is 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
