Study Links Alcohol Dependence to Mental Illness

People with severe and mild mental illnesses are more likely to develop alcohol dependency than adults without mental illness, according to a new study. It also showed that the rate of alcohol dependency increases as the severity of the mental illness increases.

It found that while 7.9 percent of those with mild mental illness were alcohol dependent, 10 percent of those with moderate mental illness and 13.2 percent of those with serious mental illness were alcohol dependent.

"Mental and substance use disorders often go hand in hand. This study adds to the evidence of this connection," said Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D.

"Co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders are to be expected not considered the exception. Unfortunately, signs and symptoms of these behavioral health conditions are often missed by individuals, their friends and family members and unnoticed by health professionals. The results can be devastating and costly to our society," Hyde added.

The report was based on data from the '2009 national survey of drug use and health', a state-of-the-art scientific survey of a large representative sample of people throughout the United States.

Source-ANI