Substance abuse may sharply increase symptoms of mental illness or even trigger new symptoms. Abuse of alcohol or drugs can also interact with medications such as antidepressants, anxiety medications, and mood stabilizers, making them less effective at managing symptoms and delaying your recovery. Recognizing a dual diagnosis
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Are mental health disorders caused by substance abuse?
Even when mental health disorders are caused by substance abuse, treatment is necessary —for the psychiatric symptoms and substance use disorder alike. What Drugs Can Trigger Mental Illness? Drug-induced mental illness is a serious and dangerous situation that will likely get much worse without healing intervention.
How to recover from mental health problems and substance use disorders?
Recovering From Mental Health Problems and Substance Use. Someone with a mental health problem and substance use disorder must treat both issues. Treatment for both mental health problems and substance use disorders may include rehabilitation, medications, support groups, and talk therapy.
What are the health conditions as a result of substance abuse?
Health Conditions as a Result of Substance Abuse Brain Damage Cardiovascular Problems Gastrointestinal Issues Respiratory Problems Liver Damage Kidney Damage Infections and Immune System Damage
What are the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse?
The dangers of drug and alcohol abuse include the possibility of severe mental illness. Even when mental health disorders are caused by substance abuse, treatment is necessary —for the psychiatric symptoms and substance use disorder alike.
How should people with substance related disorders be treated?
What are treatments for drug addiction?behavioral counseling.medication.medical devices and applications used to treat withdrawal symptoms or deliver skills training.evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.long-term follow-up to prevent relapse.
How does substance abuse affect health?
People with addiction often have one or more associated health issues, which could include lung or heart disease, stroke, cancer, or mental health conditions. Imaging scans, chest X-rays, and blood tests can show the damaging effects of long-term drug use throughout the body.
What is the most effective treatment for substance use disorders?
Talk therapy (counseling) is the most commonly used treatment for substance misuse. Therapy is a treatment that helps people with emotional, physical, and mental health problems function better.
What are the 5 factors influencing substance use and abuse?
Risk factorsFamily history of addiction. Drug addiction is more common in some families and likely involves genetic predisposition. ... Mental health disorder. ... Peer pressure. ... Lack of family involvement. ... Early use. ... Taking a highly addictive drug.
Which diseases are caused by substance abuse?
In this article, we'll explore some of the serious health conditions that may be caused or worsened by substance abuse, including:Diminished immune system function and infection.Cardiovascular problems.Gastrointestinal issues.Respiratory problems.Liver damage.Kidney damage.Neurological issues.
How does substance use affect the behavior?
Substance use often leads to emotional volatility. You may lose your temper easily or suffer from mood swings. This is often related to the anxiety and depression mentioned above. When you constantly feel anxious, you feel at some level that you are being threatened and are therefore more likely to lash out.
What is a treatment plan for substance abuse?
A substance abuse treatment plan is an individualized, written document that details a client's goals and objectives, the steps need to achieve those, and a timeline for treatment. These plans are mutually agreed upon with the client and the clinician.
What is the first step in treating a drug abuse problem?
Detoxification is normally the first step in treatment. This involves clearing a substance from the body and limiting withdrawal reactions. In 80 percent of cases, a treatment clinic will use medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
How do you help a person who has an addiction?
7 Tips for Helping Someone with an AddictionTip #1: Educate Yourself. Get information about addictions. ... Tip #2: Get Support. ... Tip #3: Get Counseling. ... Tip #4: Seek Specialty Help. ... Tip #5: Don't Enable. ... Tip #6: Have Realistic Expectations. ... Tip #7: Take Care of Yourself.
What are the most important factors in recovery from a drug addiction?
An important part of the addiction recovery process is learning to be aware of emotions, accept emotions, feel emotions, and cope with emotions. The longer one is able to maintain their sobriety, the better chance they have at long-term recovery.
What is the most critical factor in addiction?
Factors such as peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, early exposure to drugs, stress, and parental guidance can greatly affect a person's likelihood of drug use and addiction. Development. Genetic and environmental factors interact with critical developmental stages in a person's life to affect addiction risk.
What are the symptoms of substance abuse disorder?
Warning Signs of Substance and Alcohol Use DisorderBloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual.Changes in appetite or sleep patterns.Deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits.Runny nose or sniffling.Sudden weight loss or weight gain.Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination.More items...
How does drugs affect a person's health and fitness?
They speed up messaging to and from the brain, making you feel more alert and confident. This can cause increased heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, reduced appetite, agitation and sleeplessness. In large amounts stimulants may cause anxiety, panic, seizures, stomach cramps and paranoia.
How does drugs and alcohol affect your mental health?
How alcohol affects our mood and mental health. Alcohol is a drug that has a depressant effect on the body and can negatively affect thoughts, feelings and actions. Alcohol, can cause agitation, lack of motivation, large changes in mood,4 and increased stress and anxiety.
What is a substance use disorder?
A substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to a person’s inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUDs.
How does brain change affect mental health?
Additionally, brain changes in people with mental disorders may enhance the rewarding effects of substances, making it more likely they will continue to use the substance. Substance use and SUDs can contribute to the development of other mental disorders. Substance use may trigger changes in brain structure and function ...
What are some examples of behavioral therapy for SUDs?
Some examples of effective behavioral therapies for adults with SUDs and different co-occurring mental disorders include the following: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of talk therapy aimed at helping people learn how to cope with difficult situations by challenging irrational thoughts and changing behaviors.
Why do SUDs and other mental disorders occur together?
Research suggests three possibilities that could explain why SUDs and other mental disorders may occur together: Common risk factors can contribute to both SUDs and other mental disorders. Both SUDs and other mental disorders can run in families, suggesting that certain genes may be a risk factor. Environmental factors, such as stress ...
What are the factors that contribute to mental health?
Environmental factors, such as stress or trauma, can cause genetic changes that are passed down through generations and may contribute to the development of a mental disorder or a substance use disorder. Mental disorders can contribute to substance use and SUDs. Studies found that people with a mental disorder, such as anxiety, depression, ...
What is behavioral therapy?
Behavioral Therapies. Research has found several behavioral therapies that have promise for treating individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. Health care providers may recommend behavioral therapies alone or in combination with medications. Some examples of effective behavioral therapies for adults with SUDs ...
Why should a provider use comprehensive assessment tools?
Because it can be challenging to make an accurate diagnosis due to overlapping symptoms, the provider should use comprehensive assessment tools to reduce the chance of a missed diagnosis and provide targeted treatment . It also is essential that treatment, which may include behavioral therapies and medications, be tailored to an individual’s ...
When a person struggles with substance abuse for a long time, the brain adapts.?
As it does so, certain changes in brain chemistry accompany the development of physical dependence to the substance in question. 21
How to stop intoxicating substances?
In order to stop the harmful effects of intoxicating substances, it is important to safely detox with a medical professional’s help and enter a comprehensive rehabilitation program. A rehabilitation program like Sunrise House offers therapy to understand the roots of substance abuse problems and to develop skills to avoid relapse. Ending an addiction or substance abuse problem gives the body time to heal, and damage to the body can be reversed or reduced.
What are the risks of intravenous injections?
Drugs that are injected intravenously carry a very high risk of infection, especially from HIV, hepatitis B and C , or bacterial infections from sharing dirty needles. 3 Other drugs also increase the risk of certain infections, such as upper respiratory infections from snorting or smoking drugs. 4
Why are kidneys affected by drugs?
The kidneys also filter toxins out of the bloodstream, so they are affected by large amounts of any dangerous substance in the blood. Some drugs are associated with a condition known as rhabdomyolysis, which is the breakdown of muscle tissue that floods the bloodstream with toxic levels of muscle cell contents, including a large protein known as myoglobin; as a result, the kidneys may become overwhelmed and unable to filter toxins efficiently. 19
How to contact Sunrise House for addiction treatment?
See how addiction treatment at a facility like Sunrise House could change your life and help you get on the road to recovery: just call 973-862-4820. Below you’ll find some of the most common health conditions caused or made worse by drug or alcohol abuse.
Why are synthetic drugs dangerous?
Other substances, like synthetic drugs or inhalants, can be extremely dangerous because of their unpredictable, harmful effects on those using them. In this article, we’ll explore some of the serious health conditions that may be caused or worsened by substance abuse, including: Diminished immune system function and infection.
Does alcohol cause pneumonia?
Experts estimate that around half of all adult patients with pneumonia have abused alcohol in the past. Those with alcohol abuse issues and pneumococcal pneumonia see more severe complications and a higher rate of mortality than pneumonia patients who have not abused alcohol. 6.
What is substance use disorder?
Substance Use Disorders. Substance use disorders can refer to substance use or substance dependence. Symptoms of substance use disorders may include: Behavioral changes, such as: Drop in attendance and performance at work or school. Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities)
What is the treatment for mental health and substance use disorder?
Treatment for both mental health problems and substance use disorders may include rehabilitation, medications, support groups, and talk therapy.
What are the causes of mental disorders?
Mental and substance use disorders share some underlying causes, including changes in brain composition, genetic vulnerabilities, and early exposure to stress or trauma
What is the meaning of "suddenly getting into trouble"?
Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities) Using substances in physically hazardous situations such as while driving or operating a machine. Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors. Changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Unexplained change in personality or attitude.
Can mental health and substance use disorders occur together?
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Mental health problems and substance use disorders sometimes occur together. This is because: Certain illegal drugs can cause people with an addiction to experience one or more symptoms of a mental health problem.
What are the risk factors for mental illness?
Unless it can be shown that factors unique to serious mental illness are specifically associated with behavior leading to arrest and incarceration, the criminalization hypothesis should be reconsidered in favor of more powerful risk factors for crime that are inherent in social settings occupied by persons with serious mental illness—risk factors such as unemployment, poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse ( 10 ). The overrepresentation of persons with serious mental illness in jails and prisons may not indicate a mental health care crisis as much as a public policy crisis. Jails and prisons may continue to be seen as the "psychiatric warehouses of the new millennium" ( 11 ) as long as risk factors for crime that are known to be widespread in psychiatric populations are not adequately addressed by community resources and services. The criminalization hypothesis, with its almost exclusive emphasis on mental health care issues, ultimately may be a distraction from more promising areas for intervention—substance abuse and the disadvantaged social settings common to many persons with serious mental illness.
Why are people with mental illness more likely to be arrested?
Why persons with serious mental illness are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated is unclear, but a literal and popular interpretation of the criminalization hypothesis implies two possibilities. First, symptoms of serious mental illness have become de facto criminal offenses; that is, persons with serious mental illness are arrested ...
What is indirect effect of mental illness?
An indirect effect of serious mental illness was any other symptom-based influence, such as confusion, depression, thought disorder, or irritability. A direct effect of substance abuse was defined as the influence of being intoxicated or high on the criminal offense identified in the police arrest report.
Is delusional violence rare?
However, delusional violence is rare when considered in the context of the prevalence of delusions ( 9 ), and the actual contribution of delusions to the violence rates of persons with serious mental illness is unclear ( 5 ). In any case, substance abuse was responsible for a sizable minority of index criminal offenses committed by our participants ...
Is mental illness a criminal offense?
First, symptoms of serious mental illness have become de facto criminal offenses; that is, persons with serious mental illness are arrested and incarcerated for displaying psychiatr ic symptoms. Second, symptoms of serious mental illness motivate or otherwise cause actual criminal offenses.
What are the effects of alcohol on the body?
Alcoholic-Induced Strokes. Alcohol and Liver Damage. Life-Threatening Effects. Drug abuse has devastating effects on the mind, behavior, and relationships, but the permanent effects of drugs on the body can slowly destroy vital systems and functions, culminating in permanent disability or even death. Even legal drugs, taken to excess, can cause ...
What are the long term effects of cocaine?
Among the long-term (and possibly permanent) effects of cocaine are a decrease in bone density and muscle mass, ...
What happens if you drink too much alcohol?
Alcoholic hepatitis is the result of inflammation and minor scarring of the liver, also induced by the liver having to process more alcohol than it can. Symptoms can include a loss of appetite and vomiting (which contribute to the danger of Korsakoff’s syndrome), as well as nausea, stomach pain, fever, and jaundice. As many as 35 percent of heavy drinkers go on to develop alcoholic hepatitis, which can present in forms that are either mild or severe. Mild alcoholic hepatitis can be reversed with gradually weaning off alcoholic consumption, but the severe form of the condition may onset without warning, and it can lead to emergency complications, such as liver failure and ultimately death. Lastly, alcoholic cirrhosis presents as the most advanced form of injury that the liver can sustain due to alcohol abuse. The scarring and disruption to the normal structure of the liver is severe; the soft tissue of a healthy liver is replaced by hard scar tissue. Only between 10 percent and 20 percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic cirrhosis, but these are the people who drink to the most dangerous extreme. Even abstinence cannot reverse cirrhosis, making the damage done to the liver permanent; however, abstinence and treatment can prevent further damage from occurring, but some symptoms (similar to those of severe alcoholic hepatitis) may continue for life.
How does alcohol affect the liver?
Too much alcohol can damage and even destroy the cells of the liver. Under normal circumstances, the liver simply breaks down alcohol for removal by the body, but too much alcohol overwhelms the liver, causing a number of conditions that threaten the rest of the body, such as alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis.
How does meth affect the body?
Other long-term, physical effects of meth include damage to blood vessels, which impedes the regular flow of blood to all parts of the body . Without the ability to heal itself, even minor injuries can become infected and worsen, and the skin itself loses many of its healing and protective properties. Many users develop small sores all over their body, which, coupled with the formication, can become open and oozing. As with most stimulants, meth causes bursts of involuntary activity, including teeth-grinding. Coupled with the poor diet and bad hygiene that are symptoms of a substance abuse problem, heavy meth addicts tend to have broken and rotting teeth. Meth dries the salivary glands, which removes the protective layer of the mouth’s natural acids; any sugary or acidic foods consumed during a meth binge further damage the teeth, causing numerous cavities. Former addicts require extensive dental work and careful dietary supervision in order to ensure that their teeth and gums grow (back) properly during recovery. While some of the effects of severe methamphetamine abuse may be cosmetic and can be reversed, what the drug does inside the body is much less forgiving. The extreme stress on blood vessels increases the risk of stroke, which can cause permanent brain damage or death.
What are the factors that influence the long-term physical effects of cocaine?
Some of these factors include: Timespan (the duration of the cocaine use) Frequency of consumption. What type of cocaine (cocaine hydrochloride versus the freebase “crack” form of the drug)
Does methamphetamine damage the brain?
Cocaine is not the only stimulant that causes permanent damage to the body. Methamphetamines do a very similar job in destroying the brain’s dopamine neurotransmitters, and repeated exposure to the drug will make it impossible for a user to experience pleasure from any other source. Given time and treatment, the dopamine receptors can heal, but damage to an addict’s cognitive centers could be lifelong. Research suggests that damage to motor coordination through chronic meth use is similar to what individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease go through.
What happens to the brain of an addict?
Chemical changes occur in the brain of an addict, making it more and more challenging to recover and rehabilitate from the abuse. The earlier the disease and abuse is recognized and treated, the better the outcome for recovery for the nurse and the option to return to the work environment. A unique challenge to the nursing profession ...
Who report abuse to the Board of Nursing?
The nursing leadership team and human resource leaders are required to, in most states, report the abuse to the Board of Nursing (BON) and the local police authority. Each BON has a process for investigation and varying levels of programs to assist nurses through recovery.
How can treatment help with substance abuse?
Treatment can address a person’s substance use disorder and the underlying challenges that provoke their substance abuse. They can learn and practice healthier strategies for coping with their stress and managing triggers. And they will have the support to once again prioritize their higher goals in life. At the same time and in the same place, they can receive clinical care for co-occurring mental illness, whether drug-induced or independent. In this way, the healing and clinical problem-solving are integrated. And the solutions are also integrated for better long-term recovery results.
What are the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse?
The dangers of drug and alcohol abuse include the possibility of severe mental illness. Even when mental health disorders are caused by substance abuse, treatment is necessary —for the psychiatric symptoms and substance use disorder alike.
What Drugs Can Trigger Mental Illness?
Drug-induced mental illness is a serious and dangerous situation that will likely get much worse without healing intervention. The mind-altering effects of drugs and alcohol can be a powerful incentive for people to use and abuse them, but these effects can also bring about real physical and psychological damage. This danger is particularly associated with long-term and heavy substance abuse, but degeneration and mental illness can result even from shorter-term and lighter use.
What is Bridges to Recovery?
Bridges to Recovery offers comprehensive treatment for people struggling with mental health disorders as well as co-occurring substance use disorders, eating disorders, and process addictions. Contact us to learn more about our renowned Los Angeles programs and how we can help you or your loved one start the journey toward healing.
Can a mental illness be dependent on substance use?
Only an expert diagnosis can determine whether the presenting mental illness is dependent on the use of substances (in other words, the mental disorder would not have arisen if not for the introduction of drugs or alcohol) or whether it is independent but possibly triggered by substance use.
What are the drugs that are used to treat pain?
Opioids, such as heroin and prescription painkillers
Is it critical to treat a person who is dependent on alcohol?
Even if a person’s psychiatric symptoms turn out to be entirely dependent on their use of drugs or alcohol, it is still critical that they receive comprehensive treatment —both for their substance use disorder and for their substance-induced disorder.
What Are The Other Health Consequences of Drug Addiction?
Does Drug Use Cause Other Mental Disorders, Or Vice versa?
- Drug use and other mental illness often co-exist. In some cases, mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia may come before addiction. In other cases, drug use may trigger or worsen those mental health conditions, particularly in people with specific vulnerabilities.43,44 Some people with disorders like anxiety or depression may...
How Can Addiction Harm Other people?
- Beyond the harmful consequences for the person with the addiction, drug use can cause serious health problems for others. Some of the more severe consequences of addiction are: 1. Negative effects of drug use while pregnant or breastfeeding: A mother's substance or medication use during pregnancy can cause her baby to go into withdrawal after it's born, which is called neonat…