Addiction is a disease that can impact every part of a person, including their mental health. But is addiction a type of mental illness? The short answer is yes.
Addiction is widely recognized as a mental health condition in both societal and clinical spaces. People are acknowledging that addiction is a medical issue that requires treatment. Addiction is also classified in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
But the full picture of addiction is more nuanced. Understanding how addiction connects to mental health can help reduce stigma, encourage compassionate care and make it easier to seek support when it’s needed.
Read on to learn about what addiction is and how it affects your brain. Then we’ll discuss the connection between addiction and other mental health conditions. You’ll also read about why language about addiction is important.
What is addiction?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, classifies addiction as a substance use disorder. It involves a wide range of substances that can cause addiction and meets the diagnostic criteria, including stimulants, opioids and alcohol.
Addiction is a chronic condition that affects how the brain functions and how a person behaves. It involves ongoing substance use despite negative impacts on health, relationships, work or daily life.
It’s not about a lack of willpower or a moral failing. Addiction stems from changes to the brain’s reward, motivation and decision-making systems.
People living with addiction may experience:
- Strong cravings or urges to use a substance
- Difficulty stopping or reducing use, even when they want to
- Withdrawal symptoms when not using
- A growing tolerance, meaning more of the substance is needed to feel the same effects
How addiction affects the brain
Just like all mental health conditions, addiction can impact your brain’s chemistry and neurotransmitter levels. Addiction changes how the brain processes pleasure, stress and self-control. Substances like alcohol, opioids and stimulants can overstimulate your brain’s reward system. It can release large amounts of dopamine, known as the “feel-good” hormone.
Over time, the brain adapts by:
- Producing less dopamine naturally
- Becoming less responsive to everyday rewards
- Strengthening habits around substance use
These changes make it harder to feel pleasure without the substance and more difficult to stop using, even when consequences are severe. This directly affects both brain function and behavior.
The connection between addiction and other mental health conditions
Addiction often overlaps with other mental health conditions, a situation sometimes referred to as a co-occurring condition or dual diagnosis. Approximately 35% of U.S. adults who have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder are also diagnosed with a co-occurring mental health disorder.
Conditions commonly linked to addiction include:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Bipolar disorder
In some cases, people may use substances to cope with untreated mental health symptoms. In others, substance use can worsen or trigger mental health challenges.
Because of this overlap, effective care often addresses both addiction and mental health care together. They shouldn’t be treated as separate issues.
Why language and stigma matter
There are many stigmas associated with mental health and addiction. It’s possible to feel shame or embarrassment if you’re experiencing mental health challenges, including addiction. There are harmful stereotypes about people experiencing addiction that can impact their self-esteem and relationships. But the conversation around mental health is changing. Those stigmas are being challenged.
How we talk about addiction plays a major role in how people experience care. Stigmatizing language can make individuals feel judged, ashamed or less likely to seek help.
Try to use person-first language, such as “a person living with addiction,” rather than labels. It reinforces that addiction is something someone experiences, not who they are.
Recognizing addiction as a mental illness:
- Encourages empathy and understanding
- Shifts the focus toward treatment and support
- Helps people feel less alone in their experience
Breaking stigma is an important step in improving access to mental health care and recovery resources.
ReKlame provides empathetic treatment for mental health illnesses, including addiction
People with every type of mental health issue, including addiction, deserve support and compassion as they go through their treatment. At ReKlame, we help people with many types of mental health conditions, including addiction and possible co-occurring disorders, through psychiatric treatment.
We provide virtual addiction and psychiatric care to help you move toward recovery and take control of your mental health. With comprehensive addiction care through the convenience of a screen, you can prioritize your well-being without compromising your everyday responsibilities.
Give our care team a call today for more information, check your eligibility for free online or book an initial appointment online.
