Driving Under the Influence: Drug Abuse

 It’s extremely unsafe to drive a vehicle if you’ve been using psychoactive or mind-altering drugs.  This is illegal because it puts everyone at huge risk, the driver, the passengers and anyone else on the road.

Why is Driving and Drug Abuse so Dangerous?
In order to drive safely one must be completely alert and drugs impair all the brain and bodily functions needed to safely drive a vehicle.  One’s motor skills are affected, coordination and balance are compromised.  Attention, reaction time and even perception are affected.  A person under the influence of drugs cannot judge things accurately while driving.  Even tiny amounts of certain drugs drastically impair one’s ability to drive safely.

There was a survey taken called the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) for the year 2012, which included people as young as 12 years old and older.  The survey revealed that 3.9% of teenagers and adults said they drove while on drugs during the previous year.  In 2011, the percentage was lower, only 3.7%.  However in 2002, it was even higher, 4.7% of teenagers and adults reported driving on drugs. 
But if you compare these percentages to those of people driving while drunk, then it seems miniscule.  In 2012 it is estimated that 11.2% of drivers drove while having used alcohol.  That is 29.1 million people driving under the influence one or more times in the previous year.  However this is less than in the year 2002 when 14.2% of people said they’d driven drunk.

In 2007 NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a Roadside Survey that showed that over 16% of nighttime drivers on weekends actually drove while on illegal, prescription or over the counter drugs.  They tested positive for these substances.  Statistics show, according to NSDUH that men more than women are more likely to drive on drugs or while drunk.  And those in the age range of 18 – 25 are more likely to drive while on drugs than those younger or older.

How often is an Accident Caused by a Driver on Drugs?
It’s really impossible to tell because drivers involved in accidents may be tested for DUI, but rarely for drugs.  And also because drivers driving under the influence may have very well been using both drugs and alcohol and no one can say which may have caused more impairment in the driver. 

Teenagers and Driving on Drugs
Because car accidents are the most common cause of death in teens age 16 – 19 it’s highly likely that their inexperience at the wheel combined with the impairment caused by using marijuana or other drugs undermines their motor abilities and their ability to thing straight.  This of course can lead to a car accident.
There was a survey taken from 2001 - 2006 called “Monitoring the Future”.  The results revealed that 14.1% of seniors in high school said they had driven after using marijuana and still under its influence.  This was done within the 2 weeks prior to the survey.

Another study found that in the year 2009, 18% of those drivers killed in accidents did test positive for one or more drugs in their system at the time of the accident.  Some of these drugs were illegal, but others were by prescription or purchased over-the-counter.  This percentage was up from 2005 where it was found that 13% of those drivers killed were under the influence of drugs.  These studies were performed by NHTSA.

Which Drugs are Likely to Cause Accidents?
Without a doubt, alcohol and marijuana are the leading contributors to car accidents.  There have been studies done in several locations and they’ve all found that 4%  - 14% of those drivers who were hurt or killed in car accidents had a positive test for THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. 

There was a study in done in Australia of 3,000 drivers who were killed in accidents and of those who had THC in their blood stream, they were much more often the cause of the accident that killed them.  And this study further showed that the more THC in their system, the more likely they were to be the cause of the accident.

There is a lot of proof that marijuana has a detrimental effect on a driver’s ability to pay attention, accurately perceive what’s happening on the road, sense how fast or how slow they’re driving and also their ability to remember past experiences at the wheel.  If they’ve been drinking, in addition to using marijuana, their abilities are impaired even further.

Alcohol and marijuana are not the only drugs shown to cause car accidents.  Drivers who have been using amphetamines, benzodiazepines, opiates and cocaine are also severely impaired.  In 2003 over half of drivers admitted to a shock trauma center in Maryland, who had been seriously hurt in an accident, said they had been using drugs other than alcohol.  Of those, it was found that marijuana was used 26.0%, cocaine was involved 11.6%, and benzodiazepines were used 11.2%. Opiates and prescription drugs were used in 10.2% of the cases.  It was also found that in ¼ of the cases the driver was under the influence of both alcohol and drugs.

Prescription drugs are now being abused in record numbers. Many do come with warning labels about the dangers of driving when taking them, but of course some people drive anyway, ignoring the dangers.  These drugs would be pain relievers (opioids) and benzodiazepines which are used for anxiety and for sleeping.  People who don’t use good judgment and abuse prescription medications are more likely not to use good judgment when it comes to driving under the influence of these drugs, and can easily find themselves causing a car accident or worse.

Because our substance abuse treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our dual diagnosis treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the alcohol abuse treatment and drug abuse treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a substance abuse treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.
Source: http://www.alcoholismdrugabuse.com

Women and Alcohol Drinking

What constitutes excessive drinking?

13 percent of women who drink consume more than 7 drinks per week, which is above the recommended guidelines established in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Women who consume more than one drink a day are at increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke, violence, certain cancers, suicide, car crashes, and other injuries.Women are more likely than men to develop problems related to alcohol. This is because, in general, women weigh less than men and have lower amounts of water in their bodies, which means that their organs and brains are more susceptible to the effects of alcohol.

What constitutes one drink?A standard drink consists of either one bottle of wine cooler or beer (12 oz.), one glass of wine (5 oz.), or one shot of liquor (1.5 oz).Moderate drinking can reduce the risks of developing heart disease for women over the age of 55.

Consequences of excessive drinking
Interactions with medication: If someone is taking medication that causes drowsiness, such as cold medicines and medications for anxiety or depression, drinking alcohol can intensify the effects of these medications.

Breast cancer: Studies have shown that just one drink per day may lead to a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer, especially for women who have a family history of breast cancer or those who have already gone through menopause.

Driving under the influence: Even small amounts of alcohol can impair a person’s ability to drive safely. A 140-pound woman need only consume one drink on an empty stomach to increase the chances of getting into a fatal car crash.

Fetal alcohol syndrome: If a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, the health of the baby may be jeopardized, potentially resulting in fetal alcohol syndrome, a term used to describe a combination of birth defects caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Women who drink excessively may also develop alcoholism or alcohol dependency. These risks increase for women who drink four or more drinks in a twenty-four hour period or eight or more drinks in a given week. Having a higher tolerance for alcohol puts one at a higher risk of developing alcohol dependency.

Heavy drinking
In the U.S., about 5.3 million women drink to the extent that jeopardizes their safety, health, and overall wellbeing. Drinking to excess increases the likelihood that a woman will be a victim of sexual assault or violence, and long-term drinking has more negative health effects for women than for men. Drinking heavily can result in serious health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, heart disease, brain disease, liver disease, and cancer.

Treatment for Alcohol Abuse
Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs. The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse treatment and drug treatment. In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies. Our treatment center provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting. If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery. Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful. Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Source: http://www.alcoholismdrugabuse.com

Treatment for Lifestyle and Behavioral Addictions in Memphis, TN

Lifestyle diseases and addictions are the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality taking more than one million (1,000,000) U.S. lives a year, yet brief preventive behavioral assessments and counseling interventions are under-utilized in health care settings (Whitlock, 2002). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded that effective behavioral counseling interventions that address personal health practices hold greater promise for improving overall health than many secondary preventive measures, such as routine screening for early disease (USPSTF, 1996). Common health-promoting behaviors include healthy diet, regular physical exercise, smoking cessation, appropriate alcohol/ medication use, and responsible sexual practices to include use of condoms and contraceptives.

Multiple Addictions and Poor Prognosis

Since it is impossible to expect treatment for one addiction to be beneficial when other addictions co-exist, the initial therapeutic intervention for any addiction needs to include an assessment for other addictions. National surveys revealed that a very high correlation exists between substance abuse and behavioral addictions. Repeated failures abound with all of the addictions, even with utilizing the most effective treatment strategies. But why do 47% of patients treated in private addiction treatment programs (for example) relapse within the first year following treatment (Gorski, T., 2001)? Have addiction specialists become conditioned to accept failure as the norm? There are many reasons for this poor prognosis.Some would proclaim that addictions are psychologically induced. Others would say that failures are due simply to a lack of self-motivation or will power. Others argue for genetic and biochemical causes. Most agree, however, that lifestyle behavioral addictions are serious health risks that deserve our attention, but could it possibly be that patients with multiple addictions are being under diagnosed (with a single dependence) simply due to a lack of diagnostic tools and resources that are incapable of resolving the complexity of assessing and treating a patient with multiple addictions?

 

In 2010 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the “Healthy People 2010” program. This national initiative recommends that primary care clinicians utilize clinical preventive assessments and brief behavioral counseling for early detection, prevention, and treatment of lifestyle addiction indicators for all patients’ upon every healthcare visit. The Addiction Recovery Measurement System (ARMS) proposes a new diagnosis. Lifestyle or behavioral addiction is the synergistically integrated chronic dependence on multiple addictive substances and behaviors (e.g., using/ abusing substances - nicotine, alcohol, & drugs, and/or acting impulsively or obsessively compulsive in regards to gambling, food binging, sex, and/ or religion, etc.) simultaneously (Slobodzien, J., 2005).

 

Accurate diagnosis is dependent on a thorough multidimensional assessment process along with the possible help of a multidisciplinary treatment team approach. Behavioral Medicine practitioners have come to realize that although a disorder may be primarily physical or primarily psychological in nature, it is always a disorder of the whole person – not just of the body or the mind. The ARMS approach examines the broad bio-psychosocial context of the individual (e.g., biomedical, behavioral, interpersonal, social, cultural, spiritual, and self-regulative factors, etc.), when assessing an individual to determine the presence of a lifestyle addiction. It is concerned with the health choices individuals make as well as modifying and altering unhealthy lifestyles to directly reduce illness and illness behavior that predisposes them to other physical illnesses.

At Mental Health Resources in Memphis, TN, we recognize the many faces of addiction. In addition to substance abuse treatment, our intensive outpatient treats lifestyle addictions, including nicotine, alcohol, & drugs, gambling, food, sex, religion, and/or acting impulsively or obsessively compulsive in other ways. If you need help with compulsive lifestyle behaviors, call us for an assessment as the next step in your recovery.

Source: http://www.alcoholismdrugabuse.com

Treatment for Lifestyle and Behavioral Addictions in Memphis, TN

Lifestyle diseases and addictions are the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality taking more than one million (1,000,000) U.S. lives a year, yet brief preventive behavioral assessments and counseling interventions are under-utilized in health care settings (Whitlock, 2002). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded that effective behavioral counseling interventions that address personal health practices hold greater promise for improving overall health than many secondary preventive measures, such as routine screening for early disease (USPSTF, 1996). Common health-promoting behaviors include healthy diet, regular physical exercise, smoking cessation, appropriate alcohol/ medication use, and responsible sexual practices to include use of condoms and contraceptives.

Multiple Addictions and Poor Prognosis

Since it is impossible to expect treatment for one addiction to be beneficial when other addictions co-exist, the initial therapeutic intervention for any addiction needs to include an assessment for other addictions. National surveys revealed that a very high correlation exists between substance abuse and behavioral addictions. Repeated failures abound with all of the addictions, even with utilizing the most effective treatment strategies. But why do 47% of patients treated in private addiction treatment programs (for example) relapse within the first year following treatment (Gorski, T., 2001)? Have addiction specialists become conditioned to accept failure as the norm? There are many reasons for this poor prognosis.Some would proclaim that addictions are psychologically induced. Others would say that failures are due simply to a lack of self-motivation or will power. Others argue for genetic and biochemical causes. Most agree, however, that lifestyle behavioral addictions are serious health risks that deserve our attention, but could it possibly be that patients with multiple addictions are being under diagnosed (with a single dependence) simply due to a lack of diagnostic tools and resources that are incapable of resolving the complexity of assessing and treating a patient with multiple addictions?In 2010 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the “Healthy People 2010” program. This national initiative recommends that primary care clinicians utilize clinical preventive assessments and brief behavioral counseling for early detection, prevention, and treatment of lifestyle addiction indicators for all patients’ upon every healthcare visit. The Addiction Recovery Measurement System (ARMS) proposes a new diagnosis. Lifestyle or behavioral addiction is the synergistically integrated chronic dependence on multiple addictive substances and behaviors (e.g., using/ abusing substances - nicotine, alcohol, & drugs, and/or acting impulsively or obsessively compulsive in regards to gambling, food binging, sex, and/ or religion, etc.) simultaneously (Slobodzien, J., 2005).

Accurate diagnosis is dependent on a thorough multidimensional assessment process along with the possible help of a multidisciplinary treatment team approach. Behavioral Medicine practitioners have come to realize that although a disorder may be primarily physical or primarily psychological in nature, it is always a disorder of the whole person – not just of the body or the mind. The ARMS approach examines the broad bio-psychosocial context of the individual (e.g., biomedical, behavioral, interpersonal, social, cultural, spiritual, and self-regulative factors, etc.), when assessing an individual to determine the presence of a lifestyle addiction. It is concerned with the health choices individuals make as well as modifying and altering unhealthy lifestyles to directly reduce illness and illness behavior that predisposes them to other physical illnesses.

At Mental Health Resources in Memphis, TN, we recognize the many faces of addiction. In addition to substance abuse treatment, our intensive outpatient treats lifestyle addictions, including nicotine, alcohol, & drugs, gambling, food, sex, religion, and/or acting impulsively or obsessively compulsive in other ways. If you need help with compulsive lifestyle behaviors, call us for an assessment as the next step in your recovery.

Source: http://www.alcoholismdrugabuse.com

Drug Abuse Treatment and Harm Reduction

Mental Health Resources, PLLC

Attempts to reduce or prevent drug abuse in the United States have traditionally relied on anti-drug “education,” otherwise known as the “just say no” model. Over time, however, evidence has shown that promoting abstinence from drugs by emphasizing the negative nature of substance abuse has little to no effect on reducing rates of drug or alcohol abuse. Furthermore, these types of programs send contradictory messages regarding drug and alcohol use. When people are taught that using these substances causes negative effects, but do not immediately experience these effects themselves, they may reject the information they have been taught. In addition, it is generally seen as socially acceptable for adults to consume alcohol, at least occasionally, which seems to disprove the claim that alcohol is inherently “bad”. Finally, this model does not offer any practical strategies to people who have already begun to use drugs or alcohol and seek ways to cut back on or eliminate substance use.

Many contemporary treatment and prevention programs are based on the principles of harm reduction, as more traditional approaches have proven ineffective. One of the most common strategies which falls under the harm reduction model is social norms marketing, which is intended to address misconceptions about alcohol use among college students by providing accurate, practical information. This model is predicated on evidence which shows that students tend to overestimate how much their peers are drinking, and that their perceptions of drinking norms are closely correlated with their own drinking behavior.

Another common harm reduction technique is intended to address expectancies through interventions which offer information regarding how a person perceives the effects of substance use. This model is similar to the stages of change strategies and the use of motivational interviewing, which empower individuals to become aware of their own substance use and track their own goals. This feedback allows those struggling with substance abuse to recognize the ways in which their expectations may be inaccurate or incomplete, thereby allowing them to more realistically perceive and address their own behavior.

Drug use is marked by a tendency towards frequent, repetitive use, which eventually leads to dependence. Signs and symptoms of dependence include cravings, symptoms of withdrawal if the drug is no longer available, and increased tolerance. Relapse is defined as beginning to use a substance again after a period of sobriety. It is a central part of the addiction cycle. In order for treatment to be successful, relapse should be perceived as an opportunity for growth, rather than a failure, and can be used as part of a treatment program to encourage sobriety.

Because our substance abuse treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our dual diagnosis treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the alcohol abuse treatment and drug abuse treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a substance abuse treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Source : www.alcoholismdrugabuse.com

Marijuana Abuse and Social Anxiety Disorder

A recent public health study has brought to light the relationship between marijuana abuse and social anxiety disorder.  The findings have shown that a significant proportion of people who abuse marijuana also suffer from social anxiety disorder.  Additionally, nearly all of those with social anxiety disorder related to or with marijuana abuse had at least one other significant psychiatric problem.  The co-occurrence of a substance abuse disorder and a psychiatric disorder is referred to as a dual diagnosis disorder.  The findings of one study focused on the importance of determining whether patients with marijuana abuse also suffer from social anxiety disorder.  The evidence suggests that social anxiety can be both a cause and a consequence of marijuana abuse.  They suggest that treating both is necessary to helping these patients recover from dual diagnosis disorders.

The Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Marijuana Abuse
The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) performed a survey on 43,093 people.  Of those respondents, 7.6 percent (3,297 people) reported having abused marijuana at some point in their lives. Of those who admitted to marijuana abuse, 10.3 percent (340 people) also reported having had a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder.  
Assessing for and treating the dual diagnosis of social anxiety disorder in patients with marijuana abuse can help aid in the treatment of those recovering from substance abuse.  In patients with comorbid social anxiety and marijuana abuse, social anxiety must also be treated to facilitate recovery and prevent relapse.

Which Came First?
More than 80 percent of the respondents in the above survey who admitted to marijuana abuse comorbid with social anxiety disorder reported their social anxiety came before their marijuana abuse.  About 15 percent reported the opposite.

Unfortunately, both social anxiety disorder and marijuana abuse exacerbate each other, making it difficult to determine which disorder is the cause and which is the effect.  This is typical of most dual diagnosis disorders.  On the one hand, marijuana abuse may be used by an individual as a self-medicating tactic to help reduce symptoms of social anxiety, but marijuana use could also create social difficulties, including feelings of paranoia, thereby increasing symptoms of social anxiety disorder.

For those who abuse marijuana to help cope with anxiety symptoms, treatment should include skills to help them better manage their social anxiety disorder.   Likewise, those whose social anxiety is caused by marijuana abuse could also learn strategies to help them better cope with social stressors or other interpersonal difficulties that arise from marijuana abuse. 

Other Problems Associated with Comorbid Marijuana Use and Social Anxiety

Research has shown that those with both marijuana abuse and social anxiety disorder experience more severe health problems than those who suffer from marijuana abuse only.  Among the respondents of the NESARC survey, 21 percent of those who had cannabis dependence (a compulsive use of the drug with associated physiological and psychological side effects) also had the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder.  Comparatively, only 8.5 percent of those who met criteria for marijuana abuse (without excessive physiologic and psychological side effects) had a dual diagnosis involving social anxiety disorder.

Other Comorbidities
Patients with marijuana abuse and social anxiety disorder likely have other psychiatric disorders.  Data from the NESARC survey shows that greater than 99 percent of respondents with marijuana abuse and social anxiety disorder also described symptoms of at least one other psychiatric disorder.  Over 98 percent experienced another substance use, mood or anxiety disorder, and about 73 percent reported a personality disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder, avoidant, paranoid, schizoid or antisocial behavior.  The chances of someone with comorbid marijuana abuse and social anxiety disorder reporting a third psychiatric related illness was over 7 times greater than those who were only diagnosed with marijuana abuse. Of course, individuals diagnosed with both disorders reported more health problems than those diagnosed with only marijuana abuse.

Clinical Indications
Social anxiety disorder is often overlooked in drug treatment settings because providers are focused more on the treating the substance abuse alone. This is also true for other comorbid anxiety disorders with substance abuse.  Addressing the anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, in substance abuse treatment programs will improve the chances of a successful recovery and reduce the chances of relapse. Identifying comorbid psychiatric disorders, including social anxiety disorder, in a patient with marijuana abuse, can also alert the clinician to other possible underlying disorders.  The relationship between anxiety disorders and substance abuse are complicated and the identification of comorbid psychiatric disorders in substance abuse patients is necessary for effective treatment.

Because our substance abuse treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our dual diagnosis treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the alcohol abuse treatment and drug abuse treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a substance abuse treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Source: http://www.alcoholismdrugabuse.com

Alcohol Abuse and Stress

It’s common for people to use alcohol to help them cope with stresses in life. Alcohol drinking can lead to a short-term state of euphoria with feelings of happiness and relaxation. However, when stress is constant and you continue to drink alcohol to deal with life’s troubles, problem drinking is likely to arise. Heavy drinking will start to work against you and put you at higher risk for negative long-term effects on your body, including a host of medical and psychological problems, as well as increasing your risk for alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.

Types of Stress

Life Stress

Marriage, divorce, moving, and career change are all examples of basic life stressors.  Also, death of a friend or family member, problems at home or work, or diagnosis of an illness can be categorized as sources of life stress as well. Life stress often results in untreated depression and anxiety.  Something to keep in mind, however, is that those with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) are at higher risk for these types of stresses. For instance, drinking alcohol can cause tension in personal relationships, problems at work, and legal ramifications.

Disasters and Catastrophes

Some studies have shown that consumption of alcohol increases in the first year after a disaster, whether it is manmade or natural. It is notable that a lot of this research focuses only on problem drinking and not on alcohol abuse per se. Studies that looked at the development of alcohol abuse after a catastrophic event are not conclusive.  For example, some studies found no increase of alcohol abuse in survivors of catastrophic events like 9/11, Hurricane Andrew, and the Oklahoma City bombing; however, there are other studies of the September 11 survivors that did find increased alcohol abuse. Similar results with respect to alcohol abuse were found in the events of Hurricane Katrina, Mount St. Helens eruption, and many other events.  However, people who experience anxiety, including PTSD, are at higher risk for abusing alcohol compared to those without an anxiety disorder.

Troubles from Childhood

Childhood stress, including emotional, sexual, and/or physical abuse or neglect are among the most prominent of childhood stressors that can lead to alcohol abuse later in life. These stressors have long-term effects on a person’s life and account for a large proportion of psychopathology in adults, primarily involving major depression, chronic depression and anxiety disorders.  Studies have shown that childhood abuse increases the risk for both adolescent and adult alcohol use, as well as a higher rate of adult alcohol abuse.  Maltreatment or abuse in childhood is likely to occur more often in children of alcoholics because of poor parenting practices and possibly genes that increase the risk of alcohol abuse. Further psychological research is necessary in order to learn how the childhood stresses and abuse relate to alcoholism.

Socioeconomic Stress

Prejudice and discrimination as a result of minority or poverty status can lead to a high degree of stress, which can be emotional and/or physical. These stressors can be mild, such as being followed around in a store, or extreme, like being the victim of a hate crime. Long term socioeconomic stress, emotional and physical abuse are all associated with lifetime incidence of depression, anxiety and alcohol abuse.

How Stress Effects the Body

Stress is a state of emotional and psychological strain brought on by events that foster feelings like anger, anxiety, fear, or sadness. Stress is characterized by anything that threatens your body’s ability to function in its normal fashion. Drinking alcohol further impairs the body’s functioning, putting you at an even higher risk of harm by worsening the response to stress.  Continuous stress along with chronic heavy alcohol drinking can impair the body’s ability to return to its initial physiologic balance.

Higher Risk Individuals

Studies have shown that both men and women with higher-than-normal stress levels tend todrink alcohol more frequently. Furthermore, men were found to drink alcohol as a coping mechanism more often than women. For instance, in people who reported at least six stressful events, alcohol binge drinking was approximately 1.5 times higher in men than in women, and alcohol abuse was about 2.5 times higher in men than in women.

Veterans are more likely to use alcohol to relieve stress, especially if they’ve seen active combat. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often found in veterans who’ve seen war (about 14 to 22 percent in recent years), which makes them at higher risk of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.

Stress and Recovery

Patients who’ve gone through alcohol recovery programs often relapse in order to alleviate cravings, treat anxiety, and help with insomnia. Relapse can also happen if underlying disorders, like depression or PTSD are untreated during rehab. Dual diagnosis, otherwise termed as co-morbid or co-occurring disorders or “double trouble”, is a term referring to co-existing medical conditions, namely one or more psychological disorders occurring at the same time with alcohol and / or drug abuse or dependency. Mental health disorders commonly associated with alcohol or drug abuse or dependency include depressive and anxiety disorders, and are some of the most frequent dual diagnosis disorders.

Dual Diagnosis Rehab

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our dual diagnosis treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug abuse treatment. In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of dual diagnosis disorders involving alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of a  dual diagnosis disorder, alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery. Treatment for substance abuse can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.

Source: http://www.alcoholismdrugabuse.com