Common Connection Between Mental Health And Substance Abuse

A difficult challenge to the juvenile justice system and child welfare system is working with adolescents with comorbid difficulties, causing these adolescents to becoming at risk for incarceration and involvement with the juvenile and adult justice system. The juvenile justice system appears to be having a challenging time in determining how to respond and treat adolescents with mental health and substance use. "Many

Addiction, it is all around us, affecting people from all walks of life, it is not limited to certain social classes or lifestyles. It is found in every ethnic group, regardless of gender or age. It affects our neighbors, our friends, and our family either directly or indirectly. Although substances such as alcohol and illegal drugs are two of the most common addictions we hear about, there is a wide range of substances and even activities such as gambling and shopping. There is some debate whether addiction is a brain disease or a choice.

There is also research, which reveals that around 75% of those in programs for substance use disorder, also require treatment for co-occurring mental health disorder. Furthermore, individuals reporting mental health problems report a higher alcohol consumption rate at higher risk levels. Not only does this show a high rate of mental health and substance use co-inhabiting in massive numbers of patients, but also indicates that there is a need for not just treating substance use disorder but also treating mental health disorders as well. The co-occurrence of mental health and substance use is known commonly as Dual Diagnosis. It is estimated that dual diagnosis effects between 30% and 90% of those in substance use treatment (Crome, etc.

Addiction to drugs and alcohol has taken epidemic scale in the recent decades, the number of people affected by this disease has been increasing steadily and the age of drug and alcohol use initiation has sadly been decreasing, children as young as 12 years old are reported as addicts. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that 22.5 million Americans aged 12 and older self-reported needing treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use in 2014. Drug abuse and mental health disorders are commonly seen as coexisting conditions. They are among the top conditions that cause disability and carry a high burden in society.

According to Treatment Improvement Protocol No. 43 (2005), a mental disorder is defined as a disease of the mind or a brain disorder. According to SAMHSA (2016), more than eighteen percent of US citizens age 18 and older live with a brain disorder combined with another problem. To put it another way, almost 1/5th of the US population lives with mental illness and either a substance use disorder or some other issue (SAMHSA, 2016). A co-occurring problem is defined as the coexistence of both a substance use disorder and mental health problem (SAMSHA, 2016). Other examples of co-occurring problems include pathological gambling, eating disorders and those previously stated are all treatable with proper evaluation, assessment and interventions

Mental illness or substance use is a factor that can have an impact on an individual’s quality of life. With a combination of both disorders, the effects can be more threatening to an individual’s well-being. Mental illness and substance use disorder co-occur at a high rate, and when both are present, the dually diagnosed faces many challenges that can significantly impair the individual’s quality of life. “Individuals who have the presence of co-occurring disorders have more severe symptoms, impairment, poorer functioning and worse prognosis than those who only have one disorder,” (Substance Abuse & Mental Health

Merely compulsively engaging in an activity does not necessitate the title of addiction, even if the subject cannot quit of her own volition: there must be an element of negative influence that the habit has on her life in one way or another to be termed as such. The potential adverse effects of addiction are numerous and for any one addiction the detriment can be multifaceted. As addiction is generally discussed, one of the primary negative impacts mentioned is related to a person’s physical or mental well-being which can be harmed by the abuse of certain substances, such as

There is a wealth of literature about the relationship between substance use and mental illness. Bahorik, Newhill, and Eack (2013) reported that individuals who have a mental illness have a higher prevalence rate of substance use than individuals who do not have a mental illness. Fluery, Grenier, Bamvita, Perreault, and Caron (2014) cite that at least one half of people who develop a substance abuse problem report being diagnosed with a co-occuring mental disorder. There is an abundance of information in the field that provides support for the assertion that there are high rates of comorbidity, which leads into the question of why the two constructs are often found together. Specific factors such as demographics, types of mental illness and motivation for engaging in substance use are considered. Ratnasingham et al. (2013) conducted a study in Ontario on the burden of mental illness and found that the burden of living with comorbid substance use and mental illness increases the risk of early mortality and decreases overall quality of life, so much so that the consequence of living with each ailment is greater than the consequences of the four most common types of cancer and all other infectious diseases. The primary motivation for substance abuse is to cope with psychological distress or negative emotions stemming from

Drug addiction and mental illness are two topics that are becoming more popular for discussion in American households. As stated from DrugAbuse.com, “mental illness is common amongst a population suffering from substance abuse and addiction. The relationship is so strong that many people believe the drugs play a causative role in the development of the mental illness. In most instances, this is not the case. In the United States, approximately 8.9 million people have both a mental health and a substance abuse issue”. This overwhelming amount of the United States population is often give as a dual diagnosis making persons suffering

Substance abuse and mental illness are connected in a few ways. Regularly, a man experiences dysfunctional behaviors, for example, sadness and post- traumatic anxiety issue (PTSD) utilizing alcohol or drugs to self-sedate. At times utilizing the drug itself prompts psychological instability, as may happen with the delayed utilization of stimulating drugs. At last, dependence on drugs and alcohol themselves are viewed as dysfunctional behaviors in their own right. The connection between substance abuse and mental illness is frequent to the point that individuals who are getting treatment for drug dependence are normally accepted to have basic emotional well-being issues. The casualties of nervousness issue frequently turn to depressants, for example, alcohol and prescription narcotics to diminish stress and help in relaxation. So also, individuals who have chronic depression once in a while depend intensely on stimulants and drugs that adjust state of mind to dormancy self-cure and defend you from unhappiness. The combination of substance abuse and mental illness often makes it impossible for the victim to function normally in daily life. The effects of substance abuse often include difficulty maintaining personal

There are many variables when it comes to talking about substance abuse and addiction. According to (L. Lagoni, 2010), links are present between mental illness and self-medication referred to as the self-medication hypotheses. The research in this peer reviewed article was comprehensive and viewed psychiatric disorders from many different angles. They looked at illicit drug and alcohol users and found that many mental health disorders such as Thought, Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar, PTSD, ADHD, and APD are connected to many societal issues which include homelessness, health issues, unemployment crime, and early deaths.

Many clients who seek treatment for substance-related issues may also have other existing medical conditions. Studies show that six out of ten individuals with an illicit substance use disorder also suffer from some type of mental disorder as well (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2012). Whether physical, mental, or related to substance use, any other medical condition can have a significant impact on the treatment and recovery of the client.

Just as complex as the trillions of cells that keep our bodies functioning are the effects and correlations of mental health and substance use disorders. The effect of substance use disorder and psychiatric illnesses impact individuals biologically, psychologically, and sociologically, however, the correlation among mental illnesses and substance use disorders are not clearly defined. Due to a lack of knowledge of substance use as a disorder and the correlation with mental health, the individuals who suffer from these conditions are marginalized and pushed to tattered edges of their social strata. Mental health and substance use disorder can create devastating effects on the individuals as well as their micro, meso, exo, and macrosystems, which perpetuate the negative effects and realities of these individuals. In our current times with the mass amount of substance use the plagues our society, and the continued high volume of mental health, it is critical that we gain an understanding of the correlation between mental health and substance use disorders to better treat and support those whose realties are filled with unknown pain and exile. Mental health and substance use disorder and their affects are clearly related, however, the question that remains is whether or not substance use disorders can create the manifestation of mental illnesses?

Time and time again, we find that drug abuse is left untreated. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 9.4 percent of the U.S. population (23.2 million people), age 12 or older, needs treatment for a drug or alcohol problem (National Institutes of Health 7). A second survey from NSDUH indicates that 8.4 million adults in the United States possess both a substance use disorder and a mental illness (National Institutes of Health 2). When one person has two or more disorders or illnesses, this is depicted as a comorbidity (National Institute on Drug Abuse 1). Many people are unaware of the fact that a drug addiction would be classified as a mental illness.

In mental health and substance abuse, we must understand which problem is first. When working with individuals who are experiencing substance abuse problems to counteract the effects of a mental illness will attempt to treat themselves, instead of seeking out proper medical care.