ABSTRACT: Addressing the psychological distress of individuals experiencing substance use disorders
has too often been relegated to the ‘too hard basket’, leaving those affected with little choice but to receive
treatments aimed solely at addressing their drug and alcohol issues. Conversely, individuals receiving support
for psychological issues are often underdiagnosed with regards to any comorbid substance misuse
problems. In fact, to date, no definitive treatment model exists that gives equal focus to the treatment of
both psychological well-being and substance-related addictions. This is not to suggest, however, that
existing treatment programmes for substance misuse are not impacting positively on clients’ mental health,
rather that further research is needed in order to determine what it is that is supporting such improvements.
The aim of this study, therefore, was to address this imbalance by examining the correlation between
substance dependence and psychological well-being. Using a descriptive correlation design, the Severity of
Dependence and Kessler 10 scales were administered to 37 inpatient and outpatient clients at a rural drug
and alcohol rehabilitation service, at intake and 2 months into treatment. Data were analysed using descriptive
statistics and paired-samples t-tests. Positive correlative factors of improvement between substance
dependence and psychological well-being were found for both groups. In light of these findings, the authors
recommend that future research be undertaken to investigate the causal factors for this correlation