Child Mind Institute

You’ve noticed your teen is increasingly moody and anxious. Is this a sign of a mental health disorder? Or substance use? Or could it be both? What might be behind a young person’s change in behavior is often hard to pin down, particularly when substance use and mental health are both factors. But understanding how these challenges can manifest in a child’s life, and sometimes entwine to create new problems or complicate treatment, is essential to keeping kids healthy.

When children are struggling with both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder, they are said to have co-occurring disorders. You may also hear these referred to as co-morbid disorders or a “dual diagnosis.” The disorders may have developed at the same time, or one might have led into the other. Either way, co-occurring disorders can bring a host of questions.

How worried should parents be if a child has anxiety and is smoking pot? If a young adult has depression and is drinking, where should treatment begin? Is a child diagnosed with ADHD more vulnerable to developing a problem with substances? If you are a parent or caregiver, teacher, or community member concerned about a child’s mental health or substance use, this guide will help answer your questions.

Read the Parents' Guide here.