National Study Tracks Rising Depression and Overdose Trends

As depression and overdose deaths rise across the country, a national research effort is mapping the forces behind those trends, and the findings point to why comprehensive, dual diagnosis treatment matters more than ever. Mental health and substance often fuel each other, and treating them together rather than in isolation is increasingly seen as the standard of good care.

The CLIMB study, led in part by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is among the few nationally representative longitudinal studies tracking mental health and life stressors over time.

CLIMB’s Findings

CLIMB has surveyed more than 2,000 active participants in partnership with the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, following the same people over time to track long-term trends, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among its findings, the study reported a threefold increase in depressive symptoms during the pandemic and a current widespread unmet need for mental health care. Surveyors noted that two in three adults in the United States experience depressive symptoms, which correlates with a worldwide mentla health crisis. The research has also contributed to substance use disorder work, finding that 30% of Americans know someone who has died from a drug overdose.

“Mental health touches every community,” Johns Hopkins officials noted. “Even if individuals don’t face these challenges personally, someone close to them likely does.”

The Link Between Mental Health and Addiction

The overlap between rising depression and rising overdose deaths isn’t a coincidence. Mental health disorders and substance misuse frequently reinforce each other. Someone with untreated depression or anxiety may turn to cannabis or alcohol to cope. Unfortunately, this type of self-medication rarely works, and substance use often deepens mental health symptoms over time. 

That’s why behavioral health experts emphasize treating the whole person rather than one diagnosis at a time. Dr. Catherine Ettman at Johns Hopkins helped lead the study and focuses on the financial, social, and physical “assets” that support mental health. Understanding access to those resources, Ettman relayed, is key to identifying opportunities to improve mental well-being.

Dual Diagnosis & Care Options

Dual diagnosis, also called co-occurring disorders, refers to having both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time. Integrated treatment addresses both, because treating only one often leaves the other to undermine recovery. When depression and addiction are treated in the same program, people tend to do better than when the conditions are handled separately.

Comprehensive care can take several forms depending on a person’s needs. Residential and inpatient programs offer structure and around-the-clock support, while outpatient services allow people to receive care while living at home.

Evidence-based therapies for co-occurring disorders include behavioral therapy to help people reframe unhelpful thought and emotion patterns. Medications for depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders are often part of an integrated plan.

The CLIMB team continues to expand its work, including new research on the relationship between economic mobility and mental health over time, supported by a Johns Hopkins Nexus Award. The broader goal, researchers say, is to inform policies that support prevention and resilience.

Comprehensive Treatment in the USA

If you or a loved one has any mental health condition alongside drug use, look for integrated care plans so both conditions are addressed at the same time. Search mental health treatment facilities and behavioral treatment centers in your area, and ask whether they treat co-occurring disorders.

Our directory can help you find comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment no matter your location. Also, feel free to dial 800-908-4823 (Sponsored) to speak to a specialist.

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Courtney Myers, MS

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Courtney Myers has more than 15 years of experience in online writing and editing. Since graduating from N.C. State University with an MS in Technical Communication, she’s helped clients improve their visibility and reach through expert-level content creation. She specializes in addiction recovery and behavioral healthcare topics.

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Peter Lee, PhD

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Peter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history during the Cold War. His primary focus is the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century. He has published widely on how the public has used popular culture as a mechanism to address political and social shifts throughout time