Drug addiction and alcoholism are commonly associated with mental disorders. According to one estimate, in any given year about 10 million individuals suffer from drug addiction, alcoholism and mental disorders across the United States. Nevertheless, treatment for dual diagnosis has been administered in separate services–a separation that has its roots planted in days of old.

Redesigning addiction treatment and psychiatric services

There have been attempts in recent years to address this problem by restructuring and integrating addiction treatment services and psychiatric services. One such attempt is the implementation of specialized dual diagnosis treatment programs, where, ideally, treatment can be provided in one facility. Currently a large proportion of mental health and addiction treatment facilities offer such dual diagnosis programs, perhaps indicating that change is upon us.

Improvement in Dual Diagnosis Treatment Programs

Despite the enthusiastic reception of these dual diagnosis programs in various settings, empirical evaluations of some of the earlier treatment programs in mental health settings produced equivocal results. From identified results, one can conclude, that while integration of services for treating dual diagnosis clients is a desirable goal; it is not sufficient. This conclusion is further supported by the growing recognition of the special needs of the dual diagnosis clients. Dual diagnosis is associated with increased vulnerability to occupational and housing instability, victimization, and medical complications such as HIV infection and hepatitis. Meeting the special needs of dual diagnosis clients in these domains requires additional services and, often, intensive case-management–resources that are not available at many substance abuse or addiction treatment programs.

More recent studies of comprehensive dual diagnosis programs in which at least some of these special needs of client are met, have produced encouraging results supporting the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of dual diagnosis treatment programs. It is not clear, however, to what extent the dissemination of dual diagnosis programs across various addiction treatment facilities in recent years has been matched by growth of these other needed services.

Know Your Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program

What we do know is that dual diagnosis treatment programs exist in most private drug rehab and alcohol rehab programs today. The merging od addiction treatment services and psychiatric treatment services has made for a much more effective addiction treatment setting. The ability to provide the dual diagnosis patient with detox services for their drug addiction or alcoholism to be followed by a psychiatric evaluation and treatment has opened the road for recovery for many dual diagnosed patients. As with any addiction treatment program that claims to have a dual diagnosis treatment program, take the time to educate yourself as to the comprehensiveness of the dual diagnosis treatment component. If you are not sure what to ask for you can call the dual diagnosis helpline at 1-800-511-9225 and they will assist you. At the bare minimum, the dual diagnosis treatment component should have a competent psychiatrist, trained in addiction medicine. If you are looking for a lakeviewhealth.com” target=”_blank dual diagnosis treatment program, I would suggest looking at lakeviewhealth.com/” target=”_blank www.lakeviewhealth.com. In addition to a detox program and dual diagnosis treatment program, Lakeview also has a full compliment of lakeviewhealth.com” target=”_blank addiction treatment services.

Jonathan Huttner is a principal with Lakeview Health Systems, an addiction treatment program which speiclazes in dual diagnosis treatment.

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The effects of early sexual abuse last well into adulthood, affecting relationships, work, family, and life in general. Adult incest survivors may demonstrate some of the following symptoms: Fear of sleeping alone, nightmares, night terrors Poor body image, poor self-image in general Drug addiction, alcohol addiction and compulsive behaviors, obsessions Self-abuse, skin-carving (also addictive), Feeling suicidalPhobias, panic attacks, anxiety disorders Difficulties with anger/rage Issues with trust, intimacy, relationships Issues with boundaries, control, abandonment Pattern of re-victimization, not able to say “no” Signs of posttraumatic stress disorder Sexual Abuse; Was It My Fault

Certain issues appear repeatedly. For example, victims typically blame themselves for the sexual abuse, even if they were two or three years old at the time of the event. Guilt and shame are expressed, along with intense feelings of rage8

If the sexual abuse was committed by an individual of the same sex (i.e., a man abusing a boy), questions regarding sexual orientation tend to arise in the patient (”I must be gay; after all, a man raped me!”). Female victims will frequently develop sexually promiscuous lifestyles in an effort to “conquer” the situation and bring it under their control. In other instances individuals will largely withdraw from any social or sexual interactions in order to avoid the feared stimuli, and turn toward extremely isolated lives. The connection that is made for victims between sex and pain (love and humiliation, closeness and betrayal) is a particularly disastrous one.

Frequently patients will express and/or demonstrate the belief that the only way to be loved or cared for is if they are also being abused (”I knew if I didn’t let him keep beating me, I’d always be alone”). Often, in the extreme, physical and sexual abuse are even viewed as a normal part of everyday life. Healthy boundaries do not exist for these individuals, and therefore, healthy relationships are impossible. Victims will actually respond to feelings of loneliness or sadness by abusing themselves (e.g., self-mutilation) if the “significant other” is not available to do so.

Sexual Abuse and Guilt

One of the more difficult issues that arise is the recollection, by some individuals, of experiencing a certain amount of physical pleasure during a molestation or incest. This adds enormously to the sense of being at fault and “dirty.” Thus, one of the aims of treatment is to educate survivors as to normal physiological responsiveness. The realization that their feelings are/were normal helps tremendously toward alleviating the sense of shame.

Even when individuals have spoken of their abuse prior to group treatment, any pleasurable aspects have typically been denied. The opportunity to relate to others who have shared these feelings, as well as the experience, is part of the healing power of this form of therapy. The sense of isolation, of being “different from the whole world,” quickly begins to subside. It is only in revealing the secrets and dealing with the pain that survivors of sexual abuse can and do go on with their lives.

If you are looking for a drug rehab or lakeviewhealth.com” target=”_blank alcohol rehab that specializes in dual diagnosis and sexual trauma go to lakeviewhealth.com/” target=”_blank www.lakeviewhealth.com or call the national addiction treatment helpline 1-800-511-9225

Jonathan Huttner is a principal with Lakeview Health Systems, a drug rehab and alcohol rehab special izing in dual diagnosis treatment

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We live in a world where war against drug abuse is a continuous struggle.

Drugs are classified as legal and illegal. Medicines, cigarettes, and alcohol are considered legal drugs. But excessive drinking and smoking by adults, and especially by teenagers, also poses a threat for extensive addiction. Medicines that are taken without proper prescription are detrimental as well.

Illegal or prohibited drugs, like heroin and marijuana, are those that have intoxicating effects to the human body and usually produce negative behaviors when taken. The common abused substances include alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, narcotics, heroin, steroids, inhalants, stimulants, depressants, club drugs and prescription medications. Unfortunately, all these drugs are being abused widely. We cannot discount the fact that substance abuse or addiction is among the most serious socioeconomic problems we are facing today. It is a persistent menace that needs to be addressed head on.

The negative consequences of addiction are school failure, poor judgment that may pose higher risks for accidents, violence, and unproductive work output and in some instances, suicide.

Substance abuse negatively affects not only the person involved but others as well. Domestic violence, child abuse and failed marriages are the most common results. Schools and communities are also negatively impacted by drug abuse, as the quality of education eventually deteriorates and the crime and unemployment rate rises. Consequently, the nation’s economic status also suffers.

Fortunately, we have various agencies and facilities that cater to the prevention, reduction and treatment of illegal substance use. If you think someone has drug abuse problem, the best thing to do is to contact the right sources to get that person help.

Given this, it is better to educate our children at an early age regarding the effects of illicit drug use. A better understanding of these drugs will prevent them from being victims later on.

e-SubstanceAbuse.com Substance Abuse provides detailed information on Substance Abuse, Substance Abuse Treatments, Substance Abuse Clinics, Substance Abuse Counseling and more. Substance Abuse is affiliated with e-prescriptiondrugaddiction.com Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment .

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Dual Diagnosis, Dual Disorders and MoreThe term dual diagnosis is a common, broad term that indicates the presence of two independent medical disorders. Recently, within the fields of mental health, psychiatry, and addiction medicine, the term has been popularly used to describe the coexistence of a mental health disorder and drug addiction / alcohol addiction problems. The equivalent phrase dual disorders also denotes the coexistence of two independent (but invariably interactive) disorders, and is the preferred term used in this Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP).

The acronym MICA, which represents the phrase mentally ill chemical abusers, is occasionally used to designate people who have an drug addiction / alcoholism disorder and a markedly severe and persistent mental disorder such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. A preferred definition is mentally ill chemically affected people, since the word affected better describes their condition and is not pejorative. Other acronyms are also used: MISA (mentally ill substance abusers), CAMI (chemical abuse and mental illness), and SAMI (substance abuse and mental illness). Dual Diagnosis ExamplesCommon examples of dual diagnosis include the combinations of major depression with cocaine addiction, alcohol addiction with panic disorder, alcoholism and heroin addiction with schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder with episodic drug abuse.

Although the focus of this volume is on dual diagnosis, some patients have more than two disorders, such as cocaine addiction, personality disorder, and AIDS. The principles that apply to dual diagnosis generally apply also to multiple disorders. The combinations of drug addiction / alcohol addiction problems and psychiatric disorders vary along important dimensions, such as severity, chronicity, disability, and degree of impairment in functioning. For example, the two disorders may each be severe or mild, or one may be more severe than the other. Indeed, the severity of both disorders may change over time. Levels of disability and impairment in functioning may also vary.Thus, there is no single combination of dual diagnosis; in fact, there is great variability among them. However, patients with similar combinations of dual diagnosis are often encountered in certain treatment settings. For instance, some methadone treatment programs treat a high percentage of opiate-addicted patients with personality disorders. Patients with schizophrenia and alcohol addiction are frequently encountered in psychiatric units, mental health centers, and programs that provide treatment to homeless patients. Dual Diagnosis: Drug Addiction and Alcoholism

Patients with mental disorders have an increased risk for drug addiction / alcohol addiction disorders, and patients with AOD disorders have an increased risk for mental disorders. For example, about one-third of patients who have a psychiatric disorder also experience drug abuse at some point (Regier et al., 1990), which is about twice the rate among people without psychiatric disorders. Also, more than half of the people who suffer from drug abuse or alcohol abuse have experienced psychiatric symptoms significant enough to fulfill diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric disorder (Regier et al., 1990; Ross et al., 1988), although many of these symptoms may be AOD related and might not represent an independent condition. Compared with patients who have a mental health disorder or an drug abuse or alcohol abuse problem alone, patients with dual diagnosis often experience more severe and chronic medical, social, and emotional problems. Because they have two disorders, they are vulnerable to both AOD relapse and a worsening of the psychiatric disorder. Further, addiction relapse often leads to psychiatric decompensation often leads to addiction relapse. Thus, relapse prevention must be specially designed for patients with dual diagnosis. Compared with patients who have a single disorder, patients with dual diagnosis often require longer treatment, have more crises, and progress more gradually in treatment.

If you are looking for a lakeviewhealth.com” target=”_blank dual diagnosis treatment program, drug rehab or alcohol rehab call 1-800-511-9225, a national dual diagnosis helpline or go to lakeviewhealth.com/” target=”_blank www.lakeviewhealth.com

Jonathan Huttner is a principal with Lakeview Health Systems a drug rehab and alcohol rehab specializing in the treatmetn of dual diagnosis.

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