Getting Treatment for Substance Use and Depression in Women

Emergency and Crisis Support

If you or a woman you love is having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help is available right now. Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at any time, day or night, for free and confidential support. You can also chat online at 988lifeline.org. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Depression that occurs alongside substance use can raise the risk of suicidal thoughts, so reaching out for support is a strength, not a failure. You do not have to face this moment alone, and support is only a call away.

For eating-disorder concerns that sometimes accompany substance use and depression in women, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline is available at (866) 662-1235, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm ET.

How Substance Use and Depression Occur Together in Women

Living with both substance use and depression is more common than many women realize, and it can feel isolating. Understanding why the two conditions travel together is often the first step toward getting the right kind of help.

One condition frequently feeds the other. A woman living with depression may turn to alcohol or drugs to quiet negative thoughts, low energy, or a persistent sense of hopelessness. This is sometimes called self-medicating. The relief tends to be brief, and over time it can take more of a substance to feel the same effect, which is how dependence and addiction can take hold.

In other cases, ongoing alcohol or drug use can contribute to the onset of depression. Either way, both conditions are real, and both deserve care as part of one connected treatment plan rather than being treated in isolation.

Women often experience these conditions differently than men. According to NIAAA, women can reach higher blood alcohol concentrations than men after drinking the same amount and may develop alcohol use disorder more quickly. SAMHSA also reports that women in substance use treatment have higher rates of co-occurring mental health conditions, trauma histories, and experiences of intimate partner violence. Hormonal shifts, caregiving demands, and the stigma many women feel about asking for help can all shape how depression and substance use show up and why they can be harder to disentangle.

Signs and Symptoms of Co-Occurring Substance Use and Depression

Recognizing that both conditions are present is not always straightforward. Sometimes one disorder hides the other, which can make it difficult even for a trusted counselor to see the full picture at first.

Some of the more common signs that substance use and depression may be occurring together include:

• Using alcohol or drugs to stop thinking about the past or to escape painful memories
• Turning to substances as a way to cope with stress or overwhelming responsibilities
• Feeling sadness, hopelessness, or helplessness, especially when not using substances
• Feeling a strong pull to use alcohol or drugs, or thinking about using often
• Hiding how much you are using while feeling that no one truly understands

Many women also notice signs of physical dependence, including cravings and discomfort when they stop using a substance. For women specifically, depression can be masked by exhaustion attributed to caregiving, by anxiety, or by shame that keeps the substance use hidden from family and friends.

If these signs feel familiar, it may help to reach out for support sooner rather than later. As noted above, depression can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts, so please use the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are in crisis. Taking a first step toward care is a meaningful act of self-respect.

How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Works

At The Willows at Red Oak, we treat alcohol and drug addiction alongside depression through a process called dual diagnosis treatment. In plain terms, this means treating both conditions at the same time, within one coordinated plan, rather than addressing one and hoping the other resolves on its own.

Treating both together allows a woman to work toward lasting sobriety while also receiving genuine support for her mental health. When only one condition is treated, the untreated condition often pulls recovery off course, which is why an integrated approach matters so much.

Psychotherapy is the core of dual diagnosis care for most women. Approaches used in evidence-based treatment can help a person understand the roots of both conditions, build coping skills, and process trauma when it is present. In some cases, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) supports recovery as well.

Because withdrawal from certain substances carries real medical risk, care that involves stopping a substance should always take place with medically supervised detox rather than on your own. Our clinical team is here to guide that process safely.

Women-Specific Treatment at The Willows at Red Oak

The Willows at Red Oak is a women-only treatment program set in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. The natural setting is part of how we support healing, offering women a calm, private space to focus on recovery away from daily pressures.

Care designed around women’s experiences is central to what we do. We recognize the biological factors, trauma histories, and social realities, such as caregiving roles and stigma, that shape how women experience substance use and depression, and we build treatment around those realities rather than a one-size-fits-all model.

Our programs and services include:

• Dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring substance use and depression
• Addiction therapy services grounded in evidence-based approaches
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
• Holistic healing services
• Access to 12 step program support

If you are exploring options for yourself or a woman you love, our team is available to answer your questions and talk through what care could look like. Reach out to The Willows at Red Oak when you are ready, and we will help you understand the next step.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is dual diagnosis treatment?

Dual diagnosis treatment is care that addresses a substance use disorder and a mental health condition, such as depression, at the same time within one coordinated plan. Treating both together gives each condition the attention it needs so that progress in one area supports progress in the other.

Can substance use cause depression, or does depression come first?

Either can come first, because the relationship runs in both directions. Some women use substances to cope with existing depression, while for others ongoing substance use contributes to depression developing over time, which is why an assessment with a qualified clinician is helpful in sorting out the full picture.

How is treatment for women different?

Treatment for women accounts for biological and social factors that shape how substance use and depression appear, including hormonal influences, higher rates of co-occurring trauma reported by SAMHSA, caregiving stress, and stigma. At The Willows at Red Oak, our women-only setting is built around these realities so that care reflects each woman’s specific experience.