Substance Abuse
Many women suffer from depression and substance abuse. Sometimes the depression can cause the substance abuse, other times the substance abuse can cause the depression. The risk factors overlap. Depression may impair a woman’s ability to seek treatment for substance abuse, and substance abuse may interfere with a woman’s ability to seek treatment for depression.
Depression is linked to addiction, and if the addiction is treated but not the depression, there will be an increased risk of relapse. Often, addiction counselors and mental health workers work in isolation. Both need to be addressed and treated. That may mean treating the depression with an effective treatment regimen so that the woman will seek treatment for substance abuse[13].
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13. Women, substance abuse and depression. Publication of The women's addiction foundation, BC, http://www.womenfdn.org
