Drug users more at risk of mental illness

Nearly 4 million Americans have both a serious mental illness and a substance abuse disorder, a U.S. study released Thursday has revealed.

Nearly 4 million Americans have both a serious mental illness and a substance abuse disorder, a U.S. study released Thursday has revealed.The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found adults with a substance abuse disorder in 2002 were three times as likely to have a serious mental illness vs. those who did not use drugs.About 19 percent of alcoholics suffered from mental illness, as well as 29.1 percent of substance abusers and 30.1 percent of those who were dependent on both drugs and alcohol.The study also found 33.2 million U.S. adults over age 18 had either a serious mental illness or substance use disorder in 2002, with 12.2 percent of this population suffering from both.Though 47.9 percent of people with both types of disorders received treatment, only 11.8 percent of these adults received services for both mental illness and drug abuse.Rates of mental illness were almost twice as high among females.(Source: United Press, August 2004)