Essay On Co-Occurring Disorders

Definition addiction/dependence, lots of theories this paper will provide a brief overview of the main theories of addiction in view to their relevance within treatment and recovery issues which will be discussed in later sections.

Although the task force does effectively address the problem of substance abuse and addictive disorders, it does not effectively address co-occurring disorders. Early on in the text, a co-occurring disorder is defined as an individual who has a substance abuse disorder and a mental disorder at the same time. The task force mainly focuses on substance abuse. There are elements that are present in the treatment such as release prevention, engagement, and persuasion. The task force provides a number of interventions strategies address problems with substance use.

Many individuals suffer on a daily basis with one mental disorder let alone multiple. Few have the resources needed to cope and can turn to other methods of improvement without thinking about the potential outcomes of addictions and worsen their condition. Mental disorders are often than not linked to substance abuse because of the stigma placed over humanity. Society places such a constricting grasp on what is considered normal that people are hiding their symptoms and attempting to mask them to get by; only causing chaos to their lives. It is easier to try an attempt to mask symptoms with alcohol and other narcotics. I chose to focus on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) mixed with Substance Abuse for the focus of this piece. All of this can be alleviated by erasing the stigma we 've placed and given these people the many methods of help they seek. One of the first things to think about is the comorbidity between abuse disorders and other mental disorders from an epidemiological standpoint. What is comorbidity exactly? The term was introduced to “refer to any distinct additional clinical entity that has existed or that may occur during the clinical course of a patient who has the index disease under study.” Which basically means when two or more medical conditions ensue simultaneously or consecutively in the same individual they are commonly said to be comorbid. 1

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.

Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons with Co-Occurring Disorders: A Treatment Improvement Protocol, (TIP) Series, No. 42, by Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Many problems are associated with trying to treat dual disorders in a parallel or sequential fashion, including poor follow-up on referrals to other agencies for treatment, lack of organization between treatments providers, and higher dropout rates (Laudet, Stanick & Sands, 2009). In sequential treatment John is receiving treatment first for one disorder his chemical dependency and treatment for his mental disorder panic, anxiety, and depression is not addressed until the substance use is at least stabilized (Mueser & Gingerich, 2013). The mental health and the substance use treatment systems stay independent and separate from each other (Mueser, Noordsy, Drake & Fox, 2003). The only connection between the two care providers is when the individual is ultimately referred from one treatment facility to another treatment area (Laudet, Stanick & Sands, 2009). However many times, even this small connection is lost, thus increasing the risk of clients’ dropping out of outpatient treatment programs (Mueser, Noordsy, Drake & Fox, 2003). Additionally, clients may be not eligible for treatment in one system because of the

Addictions are all around us, from celebrity tabloids, television shows and possibly an individuals family member or friend. According to Koob, “addiction can be defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder that has been characterized by (i) a compulsion to seek and take drugs, (ii) loss of control over drug intake, and (iii) emergence of a negative emotional state (e.g., dysphoria, anxiety, and irritability) that defines a motivational withdrawal syndrome when access to the drug is prevented” (Koob, 2013). Substance use disorders are among the largest sources of medical disability in the world and also represent a major public health concern globally (Mari, 2013). Substance abuse is associated with topics such as: poverty, low education, crime, social

This article defines addiction as when people can’t control their actions or what they take (The MNT Editorial Team, Addictions: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments, 2016). The article focuses more on substance abuse/dependence but still recognizes that addiction can be more than drugs

Addiction is a term that has traditionally been used to refer to psychiatric syndrome that is caused by illicit drug use. Actually, addition is the only psychiatric condition whose symptoms are regarded as an illegal activity. In most cases, this term is described on the basis of drug use, which is the main focus of many research and treatment programs. Generally, drug addiction has significant negative effects on individuals using the drug and those around them such as family and friends. Family and friends are usually forced to watch their loved ones wilt away in illicit drug use. While addiction has traditionally been regarded as a psychiatric condition, there are numerous debates that have emerged on

Over five million adults in the United States (U.S.) have a co-occurring substance use disorder and serious psychological distress (Magura, 2008). Dealing with substance abuse is never easy and it’s even more difficult when an individual is also struggling with mental health problems (Timko, Sutkowi, Cronkite, Makin-Byrd & Moos, 2011). Co-occurring disorders can affect each other making both disorders more complex (Mueser, Noordsy, Drake & Fox, 2003). Research findings have claimed that in a dual diagnosis, the co-occurring issues of mental health and substance misuse impact an individual’s ability to positively function on a day to day basis (Powell & Perron, 2010). Individuals with the co-occurrence of substance use and mental illness are faced with unique stressors that are triggers to relapse into substance use (Majer, Jason, North, Ferrari, Porter, Olson, Davis, Aase, & Molloy, 2008). Mueser, Noordsy, Drake, and Fox (2003) report mental health concerns, if untreated, can increase the substance use and vice versa, when the substance use increases the mental health issues can become more prevalent. Maguara (2008) reports stigmatization is common towards the co-occurring client, causing it to become one of the most under severed populations. The relationship between the two is complex, and the treatment of people with co-occurring substance abuse and mental illness is more

“The rate of co-occurring substance misuse and psychiatric disorders is high” (Laudet, A. et al. 2004). According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (hereafter referred to as CAMH) “30% of people diagnosed with a mental health disorder will also have a substance use disorder as some time in their lives” (CAMH, 2004). CAMH state, this figure is “close of twice the rate found in people who do not have a lifetime history of a mental health disorder” (CAMH, 2004). When we look at the specific disorders we can see that in anxiety disorders 24% will have a substance use disorder in their lifetime and in people with major depression 27% will have a substance use disorder in their lifetime, most alarming, people with bipolar disorder 56% will have a substance use disorder in their lifetime and finally 47% of people with schizophrenia will

Often, people who are suffering from mental disorders, schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety tend to abuse drugs or alcohol. Clients like these need a different treatment plan depending on their condition and the substance they have abused.

Patients with dual disorders often experience more severe and chronic problems because have more than one diagnosis. Ex. a patient that is suffering from alcohol substance abuse can have a dual diagnosis. The second diagnosis can be an emotional disorder when they are not under the influence they might have withdrawal. A n clinician has to treat both dual disorder in order to help the client with the treatment. According to NCBI states “co-occurring substance use disorder and serious psychological distress. Mutual aid (“self-help”) can usefully complement treatment, but people with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders often encounter a lack of empathy and acceptance in traditional mutual aid groups. This is one of the most

In the past, “substance abuse” and “substance dependence” were two different categories in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a manual used to aid health care providers in diagnosing and understanding mental illness (Casey, 2017). Recently, the manual has combined the two categories into one “substance use disorder”. Substance use disorder encompasses “hazardous use of a substance causing social or legal problems and