subject: How Can You Be Vulnerable To Substance Abuse And Mental Problem [print this page] With the growth of cases related to substance abuse and mental illness, also known as dual diagnosis; there is now a need for proper information and better understanding of both medical problems. Information in terms of their medication, the availability of the drug treatment, and the accessibility of patients to dual diagnosis therapy facilities are now readily accessible. Dual diagnosis characterizes both mental dysfunction and drug or alcohol abuse which need to be addressed before they become worse and result to a more complicated work.
Studies suggest that people suffering from schizophrenia are more susceptible to use of entry-level substances including cannabis and alcohol when compared to those hard-core street drug abusers without mental disorders. Other studies show that those clinically determined to have schizophrenia prefers drugs that either counteract adverse symptoms or induce psychotic symptoms than the depressant medications. Substances allowing clients to self-medicate their uncomfortable neurological symptoms are those that are widely used.
Take note that even severely mentally ill individuals with low-level substance use are also at high-risk and with negative clinical results. Based on research, dual diagnosis patients are more prone to hallucinations, depression and thought-disordered. They also have suicidal habits than those with severe mental illness, but do not misuse either drugs or alcohol. They may also show physical violence towards others. Some reports note the link of drug abuse and schizophrenia with negative symptoms than just schizophrenia. Among those with high risk of obtaining dual diagnosis are teenage boys residing in urban areas. The rates for community and for out-patient samples are 30% and 50% respectively, although there are variations in the estimation. Financial constraints, homelessness, legal entanglements, family problems, poor self-care, and housing instability are among the highly-rated psychosocial issues.
The public sector functions as the primary source of medical care for the mental health of most dual diagnosis victims. The sector actually provides outpatients with 6 generic mental health treatments including consumer advocacy and referral, medication services, psychosocial services, education and training, talk therapies, and crisis interventions. These types of services are offered by the sector's dual diagnosis center. Widely used among them is medication assistance as it helps reduce the psychological symptoms and drug abuse of the patients and may also keep them from hospital admission. But, the effects of medication are not permanent, especially for individuals identified as having dual diagnosis. Psychosocial assistance seemed to redirect the patients into constructive, purposeful, and structured activities.
It was found out that determination for change is the main outcome and the pivotal variable for dual drug therapy programs. The change is great among programs which use 12-step-type models. It is expected then that the behaviours of dual diagnosis victims towards substance abuse, addiction, and mental illness are indicators of their functioning in the community.
