BPD Related Conditions Alcoholism and Borderline Personality Disorder By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 22, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Dave and Les Jacobs/Getty Images Unfortunately, borderline personality disorder (BPD) frequently co-occurs with other conditions that impact mental health. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is one condition that is common among people with BPD. 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. Another recent study showed that about 63% of people with BPD participating in the study also had alcohol use disorder. 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. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. 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. Because people with BPD have strong emotions frequently, use of alcohol to self-medicate may lead to abuse or dependence. 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. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use, addiction, or BPD, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database Comorbidity and Borderline Personality Disorder 5 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Trull TJ, Freeman LK, Vebares TJ, Choate AM, Helle AC, Wycoff AM. Borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders: an updated review. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2018;5:15. doi:10.1186/s40479-018-0093-9 Kienast T, Stoffers J, Bermpohl F, Lieb K. Borderline personality disorder and comorbid addiction: epidemiology and treatment. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014;111(16):280-6. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2014.0280 Alcoholic personality disorder: how borderline personality disorder can lead to alcoholism. Northbound Integrated Treatment for Addiction & Mental Health Disorders. Hailes HP, Yu R, Danese A, Fazel S. Long-term outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: an umbrella review. Lancet Psychiatry. 2019;6(10):830-839. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30286-X Prossin AR, Love TM, Koeppe RA, Zubieta JK, Silk KR. Dysregulation of regional endogenous opioid function in borderline personality disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2010;167(8):925-33. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.09091348 By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Eastern Connecticut State University. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for BPD Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.