Educational reference
Treatment overview
Support for drug and alcohol difficulties addresses substance use alongside mental health care rather than as a separate problem handled elsewhere.
Substance use is common among people with schizophrenia. Reasons vary and often overlap: managing distressing experiences, side effects or low mood; the same social factors that affect anyone; and, for some substances, effects that temporarily reduce discomfort while worsening symptoms over time.
Treating the two separately tends to work poorly. Services that address both together are recognised as more effective, and requiring someone to resolve substance use before receiving mental health care generally leaves both untreated.
Cannabis deserves specific mention, since it is common and since frequent use of high-potency products is associated with increased risk of psychosis and with worse outcomes for people who already have it.
Approaches are usually gradual and do not require immediate abstinence as a condition of help. What is appropriate is decided with a qualified health professional.