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The Free Mind Formula
A blueprint for better mental health that reduces your risk of overdose.
Your mental health and your physical health are closely connected.
Think about how being sick affects your ability to focus. Or how being tired can slow you down in the gym or make it hard to stay awake in class.
The same goes for how your mental health is related to your risk for substance use disorder.
Mental health conditions and substance use disorders (SUDs) are often co-occurring. This means that when someone has an SUD, they are likely to also have a mental health condition. And if they have a mental health condition, they are more likely to use drugs.1
A serious and ongoing change in thinking, mood, or behavior that causes distress and problems. Examples include anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).2
The frequent use of alcohol and/or drugs that causes problems in daily life. 2
Break Free For Your Future
Prioritizing your mental health is a good way to reduce your risk of developing an SUD or experiencing an overdose.
Below are four steps to help you free your mind for your future based on tips from teens just like you:
Understand your risk. Mental health challenges are a major problem teens face. From social media to the pressures of school and social life, there’s a lot on your plate. Not to mention the role your surroundings and your support system play in your mental health. We’ve come a long way as a society in our treatment of mental health conditions and SUDs. However, it still can be hard to reach out for help. And it’s even harder when others blame you for these challenges, tell you it’s all in your head, or say you’re just making excuses.
Take action to protect yourself. It’s important to know that YOU have the power to protect your mental well-being. You have the right to step back from situations or people that are disturbing your peace. It’s also okay to lean on friends and family when you’re struggling. If you feel that you don’t have the support system you need, look for encouragement from trustworthy mental health accounts on social media to give you a daily dose of support. When you take action, it makes a big difference.
Find ways to cope without turning to drugs or alcohol. There will come a time when you need to deal with the pressures of life on your own. How you choose to deal can have an impact on your mental and physical health in the present and in your future. If you’re dealing with stress, choose to channel your energy into your passions. Be yourself. Do the hobbies and activities that feel right and bring you the most joy. These could be sports, video games, reading, art, spending time with your pets, cleaning — anything that’s positive and puts you in a better mental space.
Recognize you aren’t in this alone. Nearly all of us will experience a mental health challenge in our life. In a recent survey, 40% of teens reported feeling sad or hopeless,3 and teens who’ve had a major depressive episode were more likely to use illegal drugs or alcohol.4 Coping like this can have lasting consequences. In addition to increasing your risk for developing an SUD, you increase your risk of overdose.5
By knowing about the link between mental health and drug use, understanding you have the power to act, and empowering yourself to deal with challenges in a healthy way, you can free your mind from the risk of SUDs and overdose.
Learn the toxic traits of different drugs.
If you’re struggling, help is available:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Co-Occurring Disorders and Other Health Conditions. Accessed March 11, 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/co-occurring-disorders.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th Amer Psychiatric Pub Inc; 2013.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Survey data summary & trends report: 2013-2023. Published August 6, 2024. Accessed February 25, 2025 cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/index.html
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 national survey on drug use and health. Published July 2024. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt47095/National%20Report/National%20Report/2023-nsduh-annual-national.pdf
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Co-Occurring Disorders and Other Health Conditions. Accessed March 11, 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/co-occurring-disorders.