Co-occurring Disorders and Youth

Young people sometimes turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with life’s frustrations, to feel more adult-like, to fit in, to rebel, or to satisfy their curiosity about drugs and drinking. Teens with depression or other mental health problems are particularly vulnerable to alcohol and drug use.
Many adolescents fail to recognize that they are depressed and why they are depressed. But, when they drink alcohol or take drugs to alleviate their stress or emotional pain, they can develop or worsen depression.
Alcohol is a drug, with serious risks and potentially harmful consequences. Marijuana and other drugs are also dangerous and often addictive. Casual use of drugs like club drugs, inhalants and steroids can cause long-lasting brain damage and impair health.
Signs of Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use
- Getting drunk or high on drugs on a regular basis
- Lying about alcohol or other drug use
- Avoiding others to get drunk or high
- Giving up activities once enjoyed to drink or use drugs
- Planning drinking in advance, hiding alcohol or drinking or using drugs alone
- Having to drink more to get the same high
- Drinking and driving
- Believing that to have fun, drinking or drug use are necessary
- Experiencing frequent hangovers
- Blacking out
- Pressuring others to drink or use drugs
- Taking risks, including sexual risks
- Becoming victims to perpetrators of violence
- Feeling run-down, hopeless, depressed or even suicidal
- Acting selfish and not caring about others
- Talking excessively about drinking or using drugs
- Getting in trouble with the law
- Getting suspended from school for an alcohol- or other drug-related incident
Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use
Behavioral and physical changes and life consequences associated with drug and alcohol use can include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Personality changes
- General lack of motivation and energy
- Sleep disturbances
- Appetite changes
- Oversensitivity
- Moodiness
- Nervousness
- Having unplanned and unprotected sex
- Declining grades and school failure
- Depression
- Loss of interest in family and friends
- Excessive need for privacy, secretive or suspicious behavior
- Suffering serious injuries from driving under the influence or engaging in other risky behavior
Help is Available
It is important to get help for alcohol and drug problems early, because the longer someone waits to get help, the harder it is to get better.
Adolescents who use alcohol or other drugs should be screened for depression, anxiety disorders and for the severity of their substance abuse problem. When appropriate, they should be referred to education or support groups, or for counseling.
Adolescents who feel that they, or one of their friends, may have alcohol or other drug problems should confide in a trusted adult such as a teacher, parent, friend’s parent or other caring individual. Also, most middle and high schools have student assistance and counseling services. School nurses, youth ministers and community youth workers are also excellent sources of information and help.
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Support Groups for Depression, Substance Abuse, Children, Teens Adolescents, Co Occuring
Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 6:24 pm
This group provides support for family and friends of individuals with mental illness.
St. Joseph's Hospital/Breese
9515 Holy Cross Lane
Breese, IL 62230
Contact Information:
618-882-3306
sharon206@prodigy.net
Meeting Details
Meets: 2nd and 4th Mondays, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Breese-Mater Dei Library, 900 Mater Dei Drive, Breese, IL 62230
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Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 5:55 pm
City Hope Bible Church
5868 West Florissant Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63120
Contact Information:
Phyllis
314-385-9129
314-383-7771 church
Meeting Details
Call for more information, if needed.
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Last Modified On: 12-13-2019 6:14 pm
Depression Bipolar Support Alliance
907 Dock St
St Louis, MO 63147
Contact Information:
Helen or Sarah
314-652-6100
866-525-1442 Friendship Line
hminth@sbcglobal.net
Meeting Details
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Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 6:02 pm
Emotions Anonymous International Headquarters
P.O. Box 4245
St. Paul, MN 55104
Contact Information:
651-647-9712
Meeting Details
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Last Modified On: 10-21-2021 8:13 pm
Karla Smith Behavioral Health offers this support group for individuals and/or family members whose loved one experiences a mental health diagnosis.
Karla Smith Behavioral Health
200 North Lincoln
O'Fallon, IL 62269
Contact Information:
618-624-5771
Meeting Details
Meets: 1st Thursday of the month; 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Call or visit https://karlasmithbehavioralhealth.org/support-groups for additional information.
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Last Modified On: 02-24-2020 8:42 pm
NAMI St. Louis
1810 Craig Road #124
St. Louis, MO 63146
Contact Information:
HELP Line
314-962-4670
800-950-NAMI
info@namistl.org
Meeting Details
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Last Modified On: 12-02-2018 6:43 pm
A Christian support group committed to ministering to the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Within an atmosphere of acceptance, compassion, and empathy we offer relevant information, and trustworthy resources related to issues commonly associated with and experienced by those who have a loved one affected by a neurological disorder or a chemical imbalance. We provide a place to share one’s faith in God and one’s personal experiences as we walk a similar path alongside a family member, friend, or loved one living with a serious mental illness.
Central Presbyterian Church
7700 Davis Drive
St. Louis, MO 63105
Contact Information:
Pat Grace
grace1pat@sbcglobal.net
Meeting Details
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Last Modified On: 12-13-2019 6:18 pm
Recovery, International
Contact Information:
312-337-5661
866-221-0302
Meeting Details
Email Chuck at johnbeerg13@gmail.com for info about group meetings in St. Louis, Union and Ste. Genevieve, MO.
Visit recoveryinternational.org/meetings/find-a-meeting to locate groups and coordinators anywhere in the country.
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Last Modified On: 01-16-2020 4:57 pm
CenterPointe Hospital
4801 Weldon Spring Pkwy
St Charles, MO 63304
Contact Information:
Gregg Sansone
636-236-2267
greggsansone@hotmail.com