Mental Illness And Coexisting Disorders

It is shown that people that tend to be involved in the use of drugs do so after making a voluntary choice (Heyman, 2009). The major use of drugs for social and non-medical preferences can lead to dependence and further addictions, it is a choice that people tend to make and from that it can lead to wanting it more, do it more with friends and further it becoming an addiction, that then effects the brain and body. When drugs are used in the wrong way they can cause many health issues but some people still tend to refer to drug addiction as a disease. Yes, There has been compelling evidence that addiction is a disease, however the result shown are weak and inconclusive. Results of different brain scans are shown by The National Institute of Drug Abuse (2017) are used to back up that addiction in fact is a disease, however the brain scans used in this research are not symbolic of any abnormal changes. The research by The National Institute of Drug Abuse do point out that changes in an individual’s brain is shown as evidence that addiction is a brain disease, however this argument can be shown as mistaken as changes in many human brains can be seen as not exclusive in addicts, although they can occur when a person is normal (Branch,2011). To top it off the information that is stated by the NIDA however doesn’t show evidence of the behaviour of addicts being involuntary or

Addiction is a chronic brain disease that often results in some sort of relapse. Addiction is characterized by inability to control drug use which results in problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships. This disease causes compulsive behaviors such as the need to use drugs despite the many harmful consequences that affect the addicted individual and those around him or her. Although for most people, the initial decision to use drugs is a one time lapse in judgement, the brain is easily affected by these drugs if the person decides to use these drugs multiple times. The changes that occur to the brain over time will cause the addicted person’s ability to resist the intense impulses of drugs to be altered causing the addict to often give into the temptation of these drugs. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death. Drug addiction is an issue that many people deal with whether they are the addict or the addict is their loved one; but with a good source of support anyone can over come the challenges and consequences of addiction.

Drug Abuse. The increased rate of drug abuse has contributed to the prevalence of dual diagnosis in this country. This is a result of the fact that addiction can encourage or cause mental disease through chemically-induced damage in brain function.

Brain chemistry can affect different addicts more then others. Drugs and alcohol are more of the main addictions that brain chemistry affects. Once taking these addictive substances your internal natural drug dopamine is lowers causing you to seek more external addictive substances. This causes craving and makes it a lot harder for the addict to stop. In Olds and Milner’s later experiments, they allowed the rats to press a particular lever to arouse themselves, to the effect that they would press it as much as seven-hundred times per hour. This region soon came to be known as the "pleasure center". Using drugs and alcohol stimulates the pleasure center in the brain that makes your brain think, “feels good- want more“. This can make it increasingly harder for an addict to stop using, until they hit a point called “rock bottom”. This is where choice comes back into play.

To understand addiction further, it is important to look at how drugs have neurological effects in a human body. Drugs can be ingested in various ways; while some are taken orally, some are smoked (cannabis) while others are injected directly into the blood stream (Heroin). Once in the body, they mainly affect the reward pathway in the brain, known as the dopaminergic pathway, which in turn gives pleasure. Even though all drugs affect the reward and motivation pathways in the brain, their speed depends on the way the drug has been consumed. Over constant use of drugs, the cognitive functions are impaired as the effects become more prominent in learning, memory

When a counselor has a new client they are working with, the client has to be assessed. When being assessed the counselor has to determine what issues the client may have. Through being assessed, the counselor may come to realize the client has more than one issue which is called co-occurring disorders. At this point the client will have to be treated for more than one disorder to effectively overcome the problems they are facing. Within this paper one will locate the prevalence of co-occurring disorders, mental health and substance abuse

There are several variables that effected whether or not use of force was present. Within the same study, variables like race, sex, firearm present, or some type of escape, influenced whether or not some type of injury was sustained from police encounters. Results suggested that white subjects were 33% more likely to sustain some type of injury then non-white subjects (Morabito). Gender also presented a significant difference in injuries sustained. Male individuals were 63% more likely to sustain injuries from police contacts that women.

A “Substance Use Disorder” is new to the DSM-5. Previously, the terms “abuse” and “dependence” where used instead. In general, the DSM-5 considers a Substance Use Disorder to be recurrent drug use that causes impairment and continued use despite substance use related problems. The DSM-5 also focuses on how substance use causes a change in brain functioning. The change is primarily responsible for intense drug cravings, as well as repeated relapses. Finally, the DSM-5 divides the criteria for Substance Use Disorder into four groupings: impaired control (Criteria 1-4), social impairment (Criteria 5-7), risky use (Criteria 8 and 9), and pharmacological criteria (Criteria

According to the American Psychiatric Association chronic drug abuse may occur together with any mental illness that may include some of the following disorders. “Some common serious mental disorders associated with chronic drug abuse include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and antisocial personality disorder” (Center, 2004). Some of these disorders carry with them an increased risk of drug abuse. Another example of a drug that can cause a mental disorder, is MDMA (3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) which is commonly known as ecstasy. It produces long term deficits in serotonin function in the brain, leading to mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Substance abuse has a wide and varied history throughout the world. Interestingly enough, substance abuse can be viewed from two different standpoints; as a disability itself (primary) and co morbidly with other disabilities (secondary or even tertiary). The use of various substances has a multitude of effects on both the individual who is using the substance as well as individuals surrounding user. In addition, there are many vocational issues that arise with each separate diagnosis, that need to be taken into account relating to the goals and objectives of individuals. This paper will begin with a brief account of drug use throughout history. It will then introduce various terminology that should be known when examining the occurrence of substance use and abuse. I will then follow the use of drugs as well as their placement with the text, though the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and discuss additional medical complications that might not be seen within the manual. Prevalence rates of individuals with disabilities, specifically those with intellectual/ development disabilities will be discussed, including those with secondary psychiatric disabilities and tertiary substance abuse diagnoses. The paper will end with a discussion of what is looked for by employers and how intellectual disabilities and substance abuse can impact these qualifications, and finally will have a brief discussion on the former and current

The article explains how individuals with substance abuse disorders have occurred with a serious mental health illness in their lives. Since these individuals are not receiving the proper treatment needed to help with their co-occurring disorders. They are continuing to have mental illness and substance abuse disorder. The authors suggests for people with these co-occurring disorders to give treatments in order to view their pattern with their substance abuse.

To begin with, defining substance use disorder and substance induced disorder for clarity and comprehension is essential. In addition, substance disorders are categorized by DSM-5 combined with DSM-IV as substance use disorder and substance-induced disorder. “Both, which are categorized as a single disorder and measured as a continuum over a 12-month period of substance use, defined medically mild to severe, in context” (American Psychiatric Association, May, 2013). Therefore, the descriptive of substance use disorder is the behavior, which come about from the use of psychoactive drugs or choice of substances inhibiting disorders and patterns from the abusers. Next, substance-induced disorders are the results of psychiatric symptoms, which

In regards to, assessing co-occuring mental health issues, the next assessment that can provide beneficial results is the use of The Substance Use Disorders Diagnostic Schedule-IV (SUDDS-IV). This assessment is generally completed in a fifty minute time frame (Hoffmann, & Harrison, 1995). This assessment is taken is through a computerized program where the clinician asks the individual the questions and then the clinician records the answer (Hoffmann, & Harrison, 1995). The assessment analyzes the demographic areas of the individuals life within a twelve month period (Hoffmann, & Harrison, 1995). One of the areas the assessment test examines is anxiety and depression.

The disease model: This theory states that an individual who abuses drugs requires medical treatment rather than moral punishment or exhortation. This theory also justifies spending money to research substance abuse in the same way that money is spent to research other diseases. However, usually the term disease is reserved for a state in which we can identify an abnormal biochemical or physical condition. No abnormal biochemical or physical condition has been found in the case of substance addiction, although mounting evidence suggests that some individuals are genetically predisposed to addiction more so than others. Nevertheless, this theory continues to appeal to researchers, and an intensive effort is always being made to identify the physiological “switch” that establishes addiction after exposure to a drug (Lee, 2010).

Mental illness is another major reason why individuals start using drugs and eventually become dependent. Chronic drug abuse may occur in concurrence with any mental illness identified in the American Psychiatric Association (DSMIV). Some common serious mental disorders associated with chronic substance abuse include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and generalized anxiety disorder (National Drug Intelligence Center). Some people may use drugs on a regular basis as ways to self- medicate themselves if they are dealing with any