There is a strong link between addiction and other types of mental illness. It’s not unusual for substance abusers to struggle with other issues like anxiety, depression or bulimia. Having two separate health problems at once is known as comorbidity. In 2014, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, almost 8 million adults in the U.S. had a dual diagnosis. People who have at least one mental disease are doubly at risk for addiction; people who abuse drugs or alcohol are twice as likely to have a mood disorder. Plainly, the two go hand in hand. Read these statistics concerning Americans who have ever been diagnosed with a mental disease of any kind: • They consume 69 percent of all the alcohol in the U.S. • They use 68 percent of all the tobacco in the U.S. • They use 84 percent of all the cocaine in the U.S. Addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease that requires professional help for recovery. Not so long ago, caregivers tackled addiction first and underlying mental issues later. Experts now know that they are intertwined. For treatment to be effective, all existing problems must get equal care and attention at the same time. Detox is just one example of how that works. Addicts can rarely withdraw from a drug on their own even if they have the willpower and good intentions. Cravings, physical discomfort and emotional upheaval all at once…