There is a “definite connection between mental illness and the use of addictive substances,” according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. They say that mental health disorders patients are accountable for the consumption of 38% of alcohol and 44% of cocaine. A big cause of this is patients trying to self medicate and treat their illness. They try to numb the pain, feel more confident, calm their symptoms, or increase their energy. Using these substances is a slippery slope and often lead to addiction, but never truly fix the underlying mental health issues. Since the mental disorder is never addressed, treated properly, or understood, it remains throughout the addiction and can even be worsened by the abused substances. Treating both addiction and a mental health issue is called dual-diagnosis or co-occurring disorder, to learn more click here.
Mental Health and Addiction
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), 8.9 million Americans have a mental health issue and a substance abuse problem. Of these 55.8 percent don’t get treatment for either issue and only 7.4 percent get treatment for both. If both issues aren’t treated sobriety can be difficult to maintain. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that those with severe mental health illness are about four times more likely to be heavy alcohol users, 3.5 times more likely to use marijuana regularly, and 4.6 times more likely to use other drugs at least 10 times in their life. SAMHSA reported in 2013 that all substances were consumed more by those with a mental health disorder than those without. Those who have severe mental health illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder are more likely to abuse substances than those with moderate and mild mental health illnesses.
Of the dual-diagnosed people in treatment, 64.5 percent abuse more than one drug.
It has been proven that the neural networks that are affected by drug use overlap with the ones affected by mental health issues. Which is why those who have mental health issues can become dependent on substances and those abusing substances can develop mental health issues. While one can influence the other they can also worsen each other. While dual diagnosis can be difficult to identify it is possible and with more and more research into this area, there is more understanding and more key identifying factors.
There is a “definite connection between mental illness and the use of addictive substances,” according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. They say that mental health disorders patients are accountable for the consumption of 38% of alcohol and 44% of cocaine. A big cause of this is patients trying to self medicate and treat their illness. They try to numb the pain, feel more confident, calm their symptoms, or increase their energy. Using these substances is a slippery slope and often lead to addiction, but never truly fix the underlying mental health issues. Since the mental disorder is never addressed, treated properly, or understood, it remains throughout the addiction and can even be worsened by the abused substances. Treating both addiction and a mental health issue is called dual-diagnosis or co-occurring disorder, to learn more click here.
Mental Health and Addiction
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), 8.9 million Americans have a mental health issue and a substance abuse problem. Of these 55.8 percent don’t get treatment for either issue and only 7.4 percent get treatment for both. If both issues aren’t treated sobriety can be difficult to maintain. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that those with severe mental health illness are about four times more likely to be heavy alcohol users, 3.5 times more likely to use marijuana regularly, and 4.6 times more likely to use other drugs at least 10 times in their life. SAMHSA reported in 2013 that all substances were consumed more by those with a mental health disorder than those without. Those who have severe mental health illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder are more likely to abuse substances than those with moderate and mild mental health illnesses. Of the dual-diagnosed people in treatment, 64.5 percent abuse more than one drug. It has been proven that the neural networks that are affected by drug use overlap with the ones affected by mental health issues. Which is why those who have mental health issues can become dependent on substances and those abusing substances can develop mental health issues. While one can influence the other they can also worsen each other. While dual diagnosis can be difficult to identify it is possible and with more and more research into this area, there is more understanding and more key identifying factors.
Identifying Mental Health Issues
By identifying any mental health illnesses, treatment can be given for both. The patient receives treatment for drug abuse as well as the mental health issue. Patients learn the dangers of self medicating and abusing substances as well as the underlying causes for their emotions and urges. Patients with mental health issues have the disorder addressed and treated accordingly. Patients are given behavioral therapy, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and sensory integration therapy. Patients receive the attention of the medical staff, psychiatrists, and addiction psychiatrists. If patients with both substance abuse and mental health issues do not have their mental health issue identified they are more likely to relapse after treatment. Programs are designed to break the addiction cycle, stabilize moods, and teach the patient how to cope with their mental health disorder effectively and healthy. This treatment is cohesive to the holistic approach to recovery.
If you are in search of dual-diagnosis care to treat both mental health and addiction issues, please call 1-888-986-7848 or contact us here. Our admissions team is ready to help you find the best drug rehab available. Holistic treatment is treatment for the mind, body, and spirit. Treating and making sure all of these are healthy with the known interaction of all three. By making the body and the spirit healthy, there is greater achievements in the mind as well. One important thing is rebuilding the correct neural pathways and transmitters. Understanding the correlation between chemicals in the brain, the emotions we feel, and the reactions in our body can be a big help for people with mental illness. By understanding why something is happening and learning ways to lessen the feelings or affects in a healthy way can be all the difference. When one’s body is healthy it is easier to do this, when one’s spirit is healthy it is easier to identify this and work on it. Just because there is a link between mental health and addiction, it does not mean that you have to live your whole life with addiction. Recovery treatment can give you the tools you need to be healthy and sober. The tools and understanding to manage your mental health illness and deal with it in a healthy way without returning to the damaging substance abuse. You can live long, successful, and healthy lives with mental illness, it all depends on how you handle it.
