I have struggled with addictions as well as bipolar, and I think substance abuse is quite common in people with bipolar. I think the substance abuse was self medicating, because my bipolar went undiagnosed for many years. My teenage years were spent with mood cycling and doing every kind of drug. Then I quit drugs and really didn't drink much until I was 34 and went through a divorce. I went into a depression that turned into a mixed state, and I abused alcohol for a couple of months.. It was a very dark time. I went to hospital, and when I came out I stopped drinking and started the process of getting on medications. I'm still working on trying to get the meds right. Now I think alcohol would destabilze my mood, and also I think if my mood destabilizes I'm more likely to drink. I don't drink at all currently.