The Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder in BPD
There is a remarkable overlap between substance abuse disorders and borderline personality disorder. One recent study found that about 78% of adults who have been diagnosed with BPD will also have a co-occurring substance use disorder at some time in their lives, meaning the symptoms and course of BPD and the substance use disorder occur at the same time. Studies have also shown that alcohol use disorders are 3.35 times more likely to be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. It’s clear the two often go hand in hand. The most common substance use disorder among people with BPD is alcoholism, followed by cocaine and opiates.
Effects of Co-Occurring AUD and BPD
Unfortunately, there is also evidence that people with both BPD and AUD have more difficulties in their lives and are less responsive to treatment than people who have only one of the disorders. For example, people with AUD and BPD are less likely to stay in substance abuse treatment, have more distress and suicidal thoughts, and are more likely to engage in other addictive behaviors, such as binge eating or gambling, than those with AUD who do not also have BPD. However, treatment can be very effective for those who stick with it.
Why Do AUD and BPD Co-Occur so Frequently?
Most likely, several factors account for the high rate of co-occurrence of alcohol use disorder and borderline personality disorder. First, BPD and AUD may share common genetic pathways. That is, some of the genes that put people at higher risk for BPD may also create a higher risk for AUD. Secondly, there may be common environmental causes for AUD in BPD. For example, experiences of maltreatment in childhood, such as physical or sexual abuse, or emotional abuse or neglect, have been linked to both BPD and AUD. Another potential reason for the link is because individuals with BPD may use alcohol to decrease the intense emotional experiences that are a hallmark of BPD. Another recent study referenced above mentions another possible explanation for the co-occurrence of BPD and alcohol use disorder, as well as opiate and cocaine abuse, all three of which are most closely linked with BPD. Evidently, alcohol, opiates and cocaine all stimulate the endogenous opioid system (EOS), whose function is to relieve pain and act in reward and reinforcement behaviors. BPD symptoms have been connected to the EOS not functioning well, so the link may be that people with BPD are more likely to abuse these three substances since they activate the EOS.
Getting Help for AUD and BPD
If you or someone you care about is struggling with AUD and BPD, you need to get help. These two conditions are not easily tackled alone. Contact your doctor, find a therapist or check out Alcoholics Anonymous. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database
