A treatment program is one topic of discussion that cannot be overlooked. In cases of Dual Diagnosis, mental illnesses are often compromised. An individual with a dual diagnosis has a mental disorder and an alcohol or drug problem. Dealing with dual diagnoses is never easy. Both mental health disorder and alcohol or drug problem have their unique symptoms. These signs may get in the way of a person’s ability to function at school, maintain a balanced home life, and difficulty relating to others. Most people don’t realize how common these problems are until they begin a treatment program. Mental health disorders and alcohol or drug addiction do not get better when ignored. They are most likely to get worse.
A variety of disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders, can greatly contribute to both the acquisition and maintenance of addiction treatment programs. Addiction can be defined as a disease with a range of harmful conditions and behaviors. It is an acute relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug use, despite the deadly consequences. Been aware of these signs can help a person with addiction have a treatment program.
However, some physical conditions can also impact how a person recovers in an addiction treatment program. These are just a few usual physical conditions found in people who develop addictions and some therapeutic considerations and professionals should have in mind. These include:
Acute Pain
Addictions and acute pain often go hand in hand, as people lean on opioid medications to reduce pain signals and become strangely enamored by the joy these medications can provide. As time goes on, individuals can move from using the drugs for therapy into using the drugs for pleasure, and even as they need assistance with their addictions, their pain may remain. In situations like this treatment program is made available to help curb their pains.
Addiction treatment programs aim to provide patients with a sense of control, so they can grasp their stresses without leaning on recreational drugs. However, abstinence-based programs might not be the best solution for individuals with acute pain, as these people might very well need continuing medications to experience natural healing. Above all, a relapse could occur when the trigger is left in place, which means leaving the pain in place.
Those who undergo sufficient therapy and pain control can recuperate from treatment programs. For instance, in a small study in the journal Pain, researchers found that only two people in Thirty four in a pain program misused their medication.
Therapy can help people to behave appropriately. An individual who has become dependent on drugs and alcohol is more likely to overcome addiction with a treatment program. Sometimes people fear asking for help for drug or alcohol addiction may lead to legal consequences. For example, a parent who is suffering from addiction may be scared of Child Protective Services’ involvement.
Other Chronic Conditions
While painful conditions are of prime importance for addiction care, many other chronic illnesses are common among individuals who misuse drugs/substances (these set of people needs treatment program even more). For instance, people who inject drugs may share syringes, and as a result, they may be at risk of HIV/AIDS. A JAMA Internal Medicine study proposes that patients like this might also have various other mental health concerns. In the survey, 68 percent of women seeking care for HIV infection had been or sexually or physically abused without introducing an effective treatment program the situation gets worse. After two or more years, these patients also had higher rates of:
- Hospitalizations
- Injuries
- chronic disease
- Emergency department visits
A study in the Journal of Viral Hepatitis had similar results. However, researchers found that those infected by hepatitis C had elevated rates of other physical illnesses, including diabetes and asthma. And without an effective treatment program, this illness could degenerate into an even more serious condition.
Studies like this above suggest that people who have one acute condition can be damaged in many ways. They might need intensive physical help to avoid returning to a drug-using/addiction lifestyle. Because of this, medical professionals who refer their patients to an addiction treatment program might expect to stay involved in the treatment program somehow, managing the medical side of things while addiction professionals assist with the psychological issues at play.
Sign of addiction
- Sleeplessness: The use of illegal drugs/stimulants, such as ecstasy would most likely encourage a disrupted sleep cycle. This is also known as insomnia. Signs of sleeplessness include frequent headaches, easily fatigued, irritability.
- Changes in Appetite: Addiction to some substances alters a person’s appetite. For instance, Marijuana consumption might increase an individual’s desire, while cocaine may reduce it.
- Withdrawal symptoms: When a person is addicted to these substances to a certain level, and the level of dependency drops, they might experience physical symptoms. They include seizures, constipation, sweats, violence, diarrhea, and even cravings. To curb situations like this people with these symptoms are to be taken to a treatment program.
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain: Another physical condition/warning sign is sudden weight loss or weight gain. This is due to the effect that these substances have on their appetite.
- Personal Hygiene: Addicts tend not to pay attention to their physical appearance or personal grooming habits. Correcting these habits, a treatment program conditioned for this course will need to be administered.
Diseases
Taking substances such as crack and tobacco can cause damage to the respiratory system—for example, lung cancers. Damage to the limbs, veins, and arteries can occur when individuals are addicted to injecting illegal substances into their systems. Individuals who inject illicit drugs are also at very high risk for hepatitis and HIV. Another chronic disease that can be caused by addiction is Chronic liver problems, having a proper treatment program will help curb illnesses like this. This is mainly caused by excessive alcohol intake, and it can not be cured. Mental health problems and brain damage can be caused by long-term alcohol intake. Drug abuse can lead to neurological damage, such as memory and hearing loss. The treatment program is just ideal for individuals with these issues,
The more signs an individual exhibits, the higher the severity of the addiction.
There Are a Few Common Myths and Facts About Drug Abuse and Addiction. They Are:
- Myth: You can stop using these drugs/substances if you want. Fact: The brain’s changes when exposed to drug abuse/addiction make it extremely hard/impossible to quit by free will with a proper treatment program the situation can controlled.
- Myth: Drugs like painkillers are safe since doctors usually prescribe them. Fact: Regular use of painkillers can lead to addiction. Abuse of these drugs is dangerous and has costly consequences and to curb the situation a treatment program has to be introduced.
- Myth: There is nothing that can be done about addiction. Fact: Addiction is indeed a disease. This does not mean that individuals experiencing this are helpless. Addiction can be treated by a treatment program, medications, and others.
- Myth: Before you can get better, you have to hit rock bottom. Fact: The earlier the recovery process is started, the better. The addictions become stronger as long as the drug abuse continues.
- Myth: Addicts can not be forced to be treated. They must want assistance. Fact: For a treatment program to be successful, it does not have to be voluntary. As time goes on, formerly resistant addicts would like to change.
- Myth: There is no point trying if a treatment program previously failed. Fact: Setbacks occur during the recovery process. A person relapsing does not mean that all hope is lost.
Mental Health Problems
There are various examples of mental health problems. They include Bipolar disorder, anger, panic attacks, and anxiety, borderline personality disorder, depression, body dysmorphic disorder(BDD), recreational drugs and alcohol, hoarding, hearing voices, paranoia, Postnatal depression, psychosis, and more. A treatment program to take care of these illnesses should be reached when you have a loved one or friend going through any of those health issues.
Available Treatments Program
There are clinical guidelines for treatment programs published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). However, recommended treatments program still varies across the world.
These Treatments Programs Include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This treatment program aims to identify connections between a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is a short-term treatment program. It helps develop practical skills to manage different negative patterns that an individual may face. Through CBT, these negative thoughts are not only identified but are challenged and replaced with positive ones. Several CBT strategies include role-playing, journaling, and various relaxation techniques. It is a treatment program used to treat a wide range of mental illnesses/conditions. They have panic attacks, addictions, depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety, phobias, and more.
- Antidepressants: These are drugs prescribed for people experiencing depression. They can also be offered to an individual experiencing eating problems, anxiety, and Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This medication aims to correct the chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain. They are believed to be responsible for changes in behavior and moods.
- Antipsychotics: These are medications prescribed to reduce symptoms of psychosis, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, and sometimes severe anxiety. With a well-equipped treatment program to tackle this medical issue, more patients will recover.
- Minor tranquilizers and Sleeping pills: These are medications that help stabilize the mood of an individual who experiences mood swings. For example, it can be prescribed for a person with bipolar disorder. They can also be prescribed for individuals experiencing mania and hypomania and sometimes severe depression.
- Support Groups: This is a group meeting where nonprofessionals but peers come together. This meeting aims for members to guide one another towards the shared goal of recovery. These groups are opened to anyone, but they focus on specific issues. Groups like this most times propagate the facilitation of treatment programs, so to help the ill or addicted people recover.
- Peer Support: This involves receiving help from individuals that experienced similar situations but are now recovered. People of this category most times get to meet themselves at various treatment programs.
- Self Help Plan: This is a unique plan where a person addresses their condition by implementing methods that help promote health. This method helps to address warnings, triggers, and recovery.
- Hospitalization: This is necessary when an individual has to be closely monitored, adequately diagnosed to ensure the illness does not worsen. Hospitalizing a patient is one of the oldest and most effective treatment programs an ill person can get.
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Ben Lesser is one of the most sought-after experts in health, fitness and medicine. His articles impress with unique research work as well as field-tested skills. He is a freelance medical writer specializing in creating content to improve public awareness of health topics. We are honored to have Ben writing exclusively for Dualdiagnosis.org.