In recent years, Florida has seen thousands of cases of drug overdose deaths, making the Sunshine State 18th among the highest in the US for drug fatalities. And as is seen in places facing the drug epidemic, a crisis of mental health issues often follows.
In a 2023 survey by the KFF, they found that over 32.3% of Floridian adults experience symptoms of major depressive and anxiety disorders. Before that, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reported a staggering 40% of adults reporting similar symptoms.
Mental health and drug addiction have always been closely linked. It’s not uncommon to find people suffering from a substance use disorder (SUD) who are also living with an underlying mental diagnosis like depression.
Unfortunately, among the millions who suffer from either of these chronic conditions statewide, only a handful get proper treatment services.
The fatality risk of those living with SUD becomes significantly higher when paired with a serious mental illness. So, if you or any of your friends and family members suffer from either or both diseases, finding health care providers who are experts in addiction services is crucial.
Below, we’ll break down all you need to know about drug addiction, its relationship with mental health, and why finding quality healthcare providers improves the chances of long-term recovery.
What Is Addiction?
According to the American Addiction Centers, over 48 million Americans aged 12 and older are addicted to one or more substances. More than 20 million have alcohol use disorder (AUD), 14 million have marijuana addiction, and nearly 3 million struggle with opioid dependence.
Addiction is a chronic behavioral health issue characterized by an uncontrollable urge to use drugs, despite knowing their negative consequences. Experts consider it a brain disease, as it primarily changes the brain’s chemistry and functions.
How Does Addiction Work?
A healthy brain has a reward system. It makes you feel good whenever you exercise, eat, or spend time with loved ones by releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation, reinforcing the behavior.
Addictive substances, however, hijack your body’s pleasure circuits. They interfere with your brain cells and change how they send, perceive, and process signals. Some drugs, like marijuana and heroin, also mimic neurotransmitters, allowing them to control the reward system.
The surge of dopamine caused by using drugs floods the reward pathway, estimated to be ten times more than regular. Your brain then remembers the euphoric sensations, associating them with the particular substance. Drug-seeking behaviors typically follow.
With chronic and long periods of substance abuse, the brain circuits will begin to change and adapt to the presence of the drug. This builds up tolerance, which compels the individual to find and use more of the addictive substance.
What Is Mental Illness?
Mental illnesses are health conditions that affect your emotions, behavior, and thought patterns. They’re often associated with distress, trauma, or stress, causing behavioral impairment that impacts daily functions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 1 in 8 people lives with one or more mental disabilities. In the US, 1 in 20 adults live with a serious mental health condition, according to NAMI.
There are many different types of mental disorders, with experts identifying over 200 of these diseases. The most common types include major depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders.
It’s worth noting that having mental health problems doesn’t necessarily mean you immediately have a mental illness. Conversely, having a behavioral health issue doesn’t mean experiencing uncomfortable emotions all the time.
Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders
Comorbidity, dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorder happens when a person simultaneously suffers from addiction and mental illness. Over 9 million have this complex health problem, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
But while the rate of comorbidity between addiction and mental illnesses is high, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one disorder causes the other, regardless of which occurs first. Either condition can also co-exist independently of the other.
There are, however, several possibilities experts believe to be the reason why these chronic diseases so often appear together.
When someone struggles with addiction, the changes in the brain may make them more susceptible to developing certain mental illnesses. Some drugs are also found to increase the risk of developing certain mental health issues.
Likewise, people living with serious mental disorders are found to be more prone to recreational drug use, elevating the chances of becoming addicted.
In a recent report made by the National Bureau of Economic Research, they discovered that individuals living with mental illnesses consume the most alcohol (35%), take the most cocaine (44%), and smoke the most cigarettes (40%).
Many of these cases are people suffering from depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, using drugs to self-medicate and alleviate uncomfortable symptoms of their mental conditions.
Common Mental Disorders Co-occurring with Substance Abuse
Substantial evidence suggests that certain behavioral health issues are more likely to co-exist with addiction. Some of the most common mental illnesses that can co-occur with substance abuse include:
- Major Depressive Disorders (MDD): Due to its effects on the brain chemistry, heavy heroin users become vulnerable to major depressive disorders over time, a serious mental illness characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and apathy.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD): People addicted to potent stimulants like cocaine are found to experience extreme anxiety and panic attacks. This is because stimulants mainly impact the nervous system and the body’s reward system.
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD occurs when someone experiences physically or emotionally traumatizing events. Severe symptoms of PTSD are sometimes treated with painkillers, which can turn into dependence and addiction.
- Antisocial Personality Disorders (ASPD): Alcohol use disorder has been shown to trigger or reinforce symptoms of ASPD. People with ASPD are also more likely to develop alcohol dependence.
- Psychosis or Schizophrenia: Although recommended to relieve anxiety symptoms, recent research indicates a link between heavy marijuana use and the development of psychosis and schizophrenia.
When to Call a Doctor
A co-occurring mental illness and addiction is a deadly combination because they can exacerbate each other’s symptoms. As reported by Addiction Center, a staggering 90% of suicide victims in the US have SUD, a mental health issue, or both.
If you notice the following warning signs, don’t hesitate to call your local suicide prevention hotline and request behavioral health services immediately:
- Frequent thoughts of self-harm
- Feeling intense guilt or shame
- Talking about being a burden to loved ones
- Experiencing intense physical and emotional pain
- Extreme sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness
- Sudden and intense mood shifts
- Researching ways to die
- Giving away prized possessions
- An increase in drug or alcohol intake
- Partaking in risky behavior without regard to personal well-being
Helplines like 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offer immediate crisis services to help overcome your emotional distress and mental struggles. They also provide counselor referrals and share valuable health information to understand your situation.
Treatment Options For Co-occurring SUD and Mental Disorders
The overlapping symptoms of a co-occurring disorder often make diagnosis difficult. As a result, many recovering SUD patients receive addiction treatment, but no proper mental health treatment.
When dealing with such a complex health issue, healthcare providers typically employ an integrated approach to deal with the SUD and the mental disorder simultaneously. These can involve residential, outpatient, or community-based treatment initiatives and programs.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may receive a combination of:
- Behavioral Therapies: Behavioral therapy helps you pinpoint and resolve self-destructive patterns and behaviors that reinforce your condition. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are common examples used in the SUD context.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment: Severe cases of addiction may require medication like buprenorphine and naloxone to manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent overdosing. As a mental disorder treatment, mood stabilizers like SSRIs are usually given.
- Other Support Services: Peer support groups and family therapy are usually provided to facilitate genuine and long-term healing. Many treatment programs also include a series of ongoing support and aftercare resources to prevent relapse.
Final Thoughts: Finding the Right Recovery Partner
Dealing with any form of addiction is never easy, and it’s even more difficult when you also have to struggle with your mental health. That’s why finding the right recovery partner with your wellness in mind is important.
Recreate Behavioral Health Network is a trusted mental health clinic for addiction in Boca Raton. We provide personalized and comprehensive treatment services for co-occurring mental health disorders and SUD.
With state-of-the-art facilities, humane experts, evidence-based treatment plans, and extensive alumni programs, Recreate Behavioral Health Network will be with you the entire way. Call today to start your healing journey today!
References
- https://olympicbehavioralhealth.com/rehab-blog/drug-abuse-and-addiction-statistics-in-florida/
- https://www.kff.org/statedata/mental-health-and-substance-use-state-fact-sheets/florida/
- https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FloridaStateFactSheet.pdf
- https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-use-disorder-aud-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics
- https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2015/10/biology-addiction
- https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-by-the-numbers/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11496966/
- https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/marijuana-induced-psychiatric-disorders-high-potency-weed-psychosis-rcna146072
- https://www.apa.org/topics/suicide/signs
- https://988lifeline.org/
- https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-behavioral-therapy-2795998
- https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/addiction/na-and-peer-support-groups-for-drug-addiction
