In recent years, mental health has been a growing area of discussion; the beginnings of a global acceptance to what has previously been overlooked or pushed aside. Of particular concern, especially in America, is the state of children’s mental health.

While COVID-19 turned the world as we knew it upside down, data from the last several years shows that children’s mental health was already on a downward trend. US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, declared adolescent mental health a public concern stating, “Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide — and rates have increased over the past decade.”

Recent studies show that the pandemic exacerbated this already growing mental health crisis in our youth. In response, many parents and school systems are taking a proactive approach to address these mental health concerns and ensure children are receiving adequate care and attention.

Children’s Mental Health Pre-Pandemic

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prior to the pandemic, mental health challenges were the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people. Roughly 1 in 5 children, aged 3 to 17 in the U.S. meet the criteria for a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder.

Pre-COVID, teachers, guidance counselors, and school psychologists would identify changes in behavior or symptoms of mental distress and connect those kids to resources, acting as an observer and form of “first responder” who triages and refers.

How COVID-19 Changed The Response

That model proved challenging, however, when schools transitioned to a virtual learning environment. Within the first year of the pandemic, many children who developed symptoms related to their mental health did not receive help right away.

This gap in identification and referral occurred for many reasons. Resources were strained, school staff members were experiencing their own mental health concerns, and more students than not were experiencing mental unrest so it was deemed the “norm considering the circumstances.” In general, school administrators’ focus was on adjusting and adapting to this brand new way of teaching and learning, prioritizing curriculum and content in attempt to raise test scores as they were the lowest they’d been in 30 years.

Luckily, the nation was aware of the crisis and in March of 2021, President Biden passed The American Rescue Plan Act. The law included $170 billion in school funding, a large portion of which was allocated to address and uphold the mental health of students. Just over 6 months later, in October, the Biden administration and U.S. Department of Education released new guidance for schools to better help students’ mental health needs.

Despite the funding, resources, and guidance, however, in December 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General issued the Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health, a document which outlines the pandemic’s unprecedented impacts on the mental health of America’s youth and families. Additionally, it discusses the mental health challenges that existed before the pandemic (e.g. the shortage of child psychologists, school guidance counselors, and the disparities of access to school and community-based mental health care).

Especially in this moment, as we work to protect the health of Americans in the face of a new variant, we also need to focus on how we can emerge stronger on the other side. This advisory shows us how we can all work together to step up for our children during this dual crisis.

Current Trends In Children’s Mental Health

Since the onset of COVID-19, children and adolescents have experienced an upheaval of the very things that helped them to feel a sense of safety and security during important developmental stages of their lives.

Many of our youth have experienced unprecedented grief, loss, and hardship over the past several years. They’ve lost loved ones and caregivers, they’ve been isolated and disconnected from their peers and lost the ability to be completely carefree.  They’ve had to worry about catching COVID-19 and had to learn to adapt to their new schooling environment. Many young people and their families witnessed financial insecurities and uncertainties regarding food and necessary household supplies like toilet paper. They have been exposed to images of social injustices, the insurrection of US Capitol, and heart wrenching gun violence in countless settings from malls to concert venues to churches and schools.

In the Fall of 2022, many children returned to a physical classroom bringing with them their experiences from the last few years and many other unseen stressors and traumas. Due to the increasing prevalence and threat of gun violence, students are not only faced with adjusting to new changes, new people and faces, new routines, and COVID-related precautions, but must also learn and adjust to active shooter safety protocols. All the while, many children are exhibiting developmentally delayed social skills and rusty time management and organizational skills.

Initially, school staff and administration thought that returning to school would create long-sought normalcy, yet soon discovered that children were experiencing mental health fallout and residue of the disruptions of the past nearly 3 years. In fact, in the 2021-22 academic year, 76% of US public schools reported increased concerns around students showing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Signs And Symptoms Of Mental Distress In Children And Adolescents

Often, children and adolescents don’t always have the proper language or knowledge of how to articulate their emotions. Subsequently, signs of anxiety, stress, and depression mimic emotional and behavioral disorders that may present (in no particular order) in the following ways:

• Skipping, missing, or walking out of class
• Turning in homework late or not all
• Sleeping in class
• Defiance with authority figures
• Disruptive behaviors like arguing, angry outbursts, or humor at inappropriate times
• Low frustration tolerance, appear to give up quickly
• Disinterest in extracurricular activities
• Hypersensitivity (easily hurt feelings, easily angered and agitated)
• Crying frequently (often without knowing why)
• Changes in appetite
• Insomnia and/or not wanting to sleep alone
• Bed wetting
• Self-deprecating comments
• Isolation and withdrawal
• Somatic complaints of feeling sick and headaches
• Experimental use of mood-altering substances
• Difficulty focusing, staying on task, distractibility, restlessness, and forgetfulness
• Self-harm or hurting others
• Comments of hopelessness, passive death wish or suicide

Suicide: An Increased Concern For Children’s Mental Health

In October of 2021, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry declared the state of children’s mental health a national emergency. Across the nation emergency rooms have seen an alarming increase of self-injurious behavior and thoughts of suicide.

As we see in the news, suicide can seemingly come out of nowhere, so well hidden beneath the victim’s smile and happy demeanor. Families, school systems, and communities must be alert and aware of signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation and passive death wishes. Pediatricians and/or mental health professionals should screen all kids for mental health distress.

New Suicide Helpline

In July of this year, 988 was designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline which is open and operating 24/7.

When people call or text 988, they will be connected to counsellors who are part of the existing Lifeline network. These mental health professionals are trained to listen with empathy, provide support, and connect the caller to resources if necessary. It is important to note that the previous Lifeline number (1-800-273-8255) will still (and always) remain operational and thus available to people in suicidal crisis.

Continued Mental Health Awareness And Support Is Necessary

During this continued transition to a new normal, we must remember many kids are feeling anxious and struggling to get back into routines. Now more than ever, we must embody the timeless adage: it takes a village. Families, school systems, and communities need to remain diligent and aware of the myriad of mental health challenges plaguing our nation’s young people and commit to providing the support and resources they require.

If you are worried about your child’s mental health, especially as we enter the holiday season, don’t hesitate to get help now. Learn more about online therapy options from the comfort of your own home and take the first step today.

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The post Back To School: Children’s Mental Health Requires Support appeared first on Addiction Center.

Officially established in 1976, February as Black History Month recognizes and celebrates the lives, accomplishments, and contributions of Black lives and minds throughout the years. While certainly not exhaustive (nor fully extensive by any means), here is a list of Black scholars recognized as more or less pioneers in the fields of psychology, mental health, and addiction medicine.

Dr. Francis Cecil Sumner, PhD

Thought of as the “Father of Black Psychology,” Dr. Francis Cecil Sumner, PhD was the first Black man to earn a PhD in the field in the 1920s. Largely, his interests were in understanding the racial injustice and disparities and working toward educational equality. He was curious as to the way Black individuals were seen in the criminal justice system and the differences between races (specifically Black and White) in terms of mental health.

Dr. Sumner worked in multiple colleges and universities from Louisiana’s Southern University to West Virginia Collegiate Institute (presently West Virginia State College), but interested in improving conditions for Black Americans, accepted a position at Howard University in 1928. Like many other historically Black institutions at the time, the school’s philosophy department housed the psychology classes and Dr. Sumner firmly believed that psychology needed its own faction in order to properly train and educate the future of Black psychologists. A few years later, in 1930, Howard University established its psychology department and Dr. Sumner taught the next generation of Black scholars for 20 years.

Jacki McKinney, MSW

A founding member of the National People of Color Consumer/Survivor Network, Jacki McKinney earned an advanced degree in social work after persevering through numerous traumas in her own life. McKinney used her experience of feeling unheard and underrepresented in the mental health and addiction sector to become an advocate and voice for communities of Color. As a spokesperson, she worked to develop policies against seclusion and restraint (usually seen as a method of detainment for those suffering a mental breakdown), stood for intergenerational family support, and fought for the inclusion and prioritization of mental health care in minority populations. She received several awards and recognition throughout her life, the most notable of them, Mental Health America’s Clifford W. Beers Award which celebrates individuals with a fierce dedication to the overall improvement of widespread care, conditions, and awareness of mental health.

Dr. Altha J. Stewart, MD

In 2018, Dr. Altha J. Stewart became the first Black person and the fourth consecutive woman to lead the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Her career spans nearly 30 years across various sectors and institutions with a primary driving force throughout all: enhanced awareness and care for mental health in minority communities. A member of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED) committee, Dr. Stewart and others work to address the mental health and substance use needs of racially and ethnically diverse communities. During her term as APA president, one of her primary goals was to increase the presence and accessibility of organized psychiatry as she believes there is a level of social responsibility to respond to and improve issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and ageism that deeply affect the overall wellbeing of various demographics within the United States.

The recipient of numerous awards and holding a multitude of various titles throughout her life, Dr. Stewart currently teaches at the University of Tennessee and serves on the JED Advisory Board. The JED Foundation is a nonprofit organization that promotes emotional health and wellbeing and works to prevent suicide in young people, providing tools and coping mechanisms to endure life’s hardest moments.

Dr. Andrea G. Barthwell, MD

Recognized as one of the leaders in the addiction treatment field, Dr. Andrea G. Barthwell has taken care to blend research with practice, ensuring that those suffering from addiction feel seen, despite their illness. From practicing clinically to serving as the Deputy Director for Demand Reduction, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) for President George W. Bush, Dr. Barthwell has a lifetime of experience advocating for communities struggling with addiction and abuse. She has integrated governmental policy with demonstrated community work in health care organizations and published her own research across a widespread assortment of journals.

After serving as president of the American Addiction Society of Medicine (ASAM) she was awarded Fellow status and has since developed and opened holistic treatment centers in several cities across the country. This list is hardly thorough; Dr. Barthwell has numerous other accomplishments and titles to her name and status further proving her admirable dedication to her field. Currently, Dr. Barthwell’s work is centered around expanding access to Opioid treatment and preventing substance use disorders in both individuals and families.

Dr. Gayle K. Porter, PsyD

A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Gayle K. Porter’s work has primarily centered on “providing culturally competent information and training on effective and evidence-based interventions, models, materials, resources to reduce emotional and physical health disparities especially in relationship to minority children and adults.” Alongside Dr. Marilyn Gaston, MD, Dr. Porter co-founded The Gaston & Porter Health and Improvement Center which oversees programs such as the Prime-Time Sisters Circle, a curriculum geared toward middle-aged African-American women. Focusing on mental health and positive decision-making, research has shown that participants were able to manage high-risk health behaviors more effectively; the program has received multiple rewards. Dr. Porter is also a member of SAMHSA’s NNED, serving as a trainer and working to improve connections between underserved communities and quality health care.

Delbert Boone

Using his own experiences with Heroin addiction and incarceration, Delbert Boone has been recognized for his notable video contributions as well as his work with various institutions on implementing quality addiction and abuse treatment services. Primarily, his work lies in educating individuals on the intrinsic connection between substance abuse and criminal behavior and his informational videos have won him numerous Telly Awards. A certified substance abuse counselor, Boone speaks with candor and empathy and a deep sense of understanding of what it is like to suffer under the weight of a dependence on drugs and alcohol.

Dr. Howard C. Stevenson, PhD

A clinical psychologist, professor, and overall leader in the racial equity and emotional literacy field (with particular attention to education and literacy), Dr. Stevenson has developed and directed numerous projects and programs that teach children how to develop “healthy racial identities through racial stress management.” Dr. Stevenson is perhaps most widely recognized for his work in creating the Preventing Long-term Anger and Aggression in Youth (PLAAY), a course that empowers youth and their families to mitigate the chronic stress and trauma widely impacting Black boys. Through basketball and “racial socialization,” PLAAY has aided in higher levels of school attendance, reduced suspensions, and overall improved relationships among African-American youth and their peers and teachers. Currently teaching graduate students in Pennsylvania, Dr. Stevenson continues to promote racial awareness and the importance of outreach and emphasized emotional education in underserved communities.

Dr. Lula A. Beatty, PhD

Once a leader in the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Dr. Lula Beatty’s work has largely centered around ensuring communities of Color receive quality education, care, and treatment, particularly regarding addiction and abuse. From encouraging underrepresented scholars’ participation in drug abuse related research to facilitating programs on strength and mental health awareness in Black families, Dr. Beatty has served on multiple committees and held many positions throughout her career. As the director of the Special Populations Office, Office of the Director at NIDA, her primary responsibilities included cultivating research on ethnic and minority communities as well as developing health disparities programs. She has also overseen projects such as the Diversity Supplement Program, a Historically Black Colleges and Universities Initiative, “an African-American initiative on HIV and criminal justice,” among others.

Leveling The Field

Without the brilliance, dedication, and efforts of these individuals (and numerous others), mental health care would likely look different, especially as it relates to communities of Color. In a field where People of Color are largely underrepresented, the work of these scientists is beginning to close the gap.

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One Final Note

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, abuse, or any other mental health crisis, there are resources to help you. Reach out to a treatment provider to find out more about your options for help and support. You are not in this alone.

The post 8 Black Mental Health Pioneers appeared first on Addiction Center.

For as long as fruit has rotted on trees, human beings and their ancestors have had alcohol to drink; the history of rehab stretches back longer than we might think.

Opium poppies have flowered for thousands of years, Cannabis may have been featured in the rituals of ancient Egyptian pharaohs, and the use of tobacco may be more than 7,000 years old.

Addiction isn’t new. Addiction treatment isn’t new, either.

But addiction treatment and the nature of rehab — once rehab was invented — have changed tremendously. The minds of each era approached addiction treatment modalities differently, and the options that are available to the modern-day patient struggling with substance use disorders and mental health concerns have greatly improved.

Addiction specialists these days truly stand on the shoulders of giants, and it may be easier to appreciate just how sophisticated 21st-century treatments are with a glimpse into how they began.

History Of Rehab: Origins Of Treatment

The unfortunate truth of addiction treatment is that addiction didn’t always receive treatment — because addiction wasn’t always viewed as a disease.

Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, viewed addiction as being an “incontinence of will.” In other words, those who struggled with moderating their use of substances were seen as being deficient of character.

Eventually, however, scholars and scientists realized that otherwise good and moral people had difficulty controlling their drinking or drugging; physician Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and early addiction scientist, was among the first to talk about addiction (specifically, alcoholism) as a disease.

Rush’s prescribed treatments for drunkenness might make us chuckle; the doctor recommended inducing vomiting in inebriated individuals by “thrusting a feather down the throat” in hopes of “exciting a puking.”

Further recommendations by Dr. Rush included cold-water baths, bloodletting, inducing negative emotions (like guilt, shame, and anger) in the addicted individual, and even whipping.

Unsurprisingly, these methods didn’t always work (indeed, some patients may have had to go see a different doctor after having seen Dr. Rush). But about 100 years after Rush’s death, addiction treatment took another leap forward: the world got its first rehab.

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Jazz And Methadone: The First Rehab

The federal government opened a drug treatment center, the first of its kind, deep in Kentucky in the 1930s.

Someone who walked by the center, known as the US Narcotic Farm, might have heard the sweet sounds of free-flowing jazz floating over the freshly-cut hay and newly-harvested crops that adorned the site. That’s because the researchers behind America’s first rehab were aiming to learn more about Opioid addiction — and jazz musicians happened to be some of the first individuals receiving formal addiction treatment.

People like Sonny Rollins, Howard McGhee, and Chet Baker (the rock and roll stars of the early 20th century) spent time at the US Narcotic Farm in an effort to get a handle on their addictions and learn how they could best fit into the world around them.

The Narcotic Farm certainly had some unconventional (by today’s standards) approaches; patients were encouraged to work hard and, in some cases, play music for as long as 6 hours a day — the thinking, apparently, was that idle hands do the devil’s work.

What’s more, patients were — unbelievably — paid in Morphine in exchange for their participation in experiments about addiction.

The takeaway from this chapter of addiction treatment history may be that creating art and keeping busy can be helpful ways to re-orient one’s life and spend one’s time; rewarding patients with Morphine may no longer be a key treatment modality, but many of those in recovery may still benefit from using their well-sharpened creativity (and, potentially, some well-deserved rewards) to manage the pangs of withdrawal and meet the challenges of forming a new and sober life.

Synanon And “Tough Love” Therapy

The 1950s saw a new era of addiction treatment: Synanon, a group that’s now been deemed a cult, advocated for several novel approaches to addiction treatment. Their methodology was innovative, to say the least; it was also abusive and marked a dark chapter in the history of rehab.

According to Los Angeles magazine, within the treatment strategy of Synanon, a key component of recovery “became known as Games or simply the Game, where members would sit in a circle and call people out on their secrets, their dishonesties, their hypocrisies.”

In other words, group members would attempt to shame their compatriots; this could be known as the “tough love” approach. This practice was evidence of Synanon’s toxicity; later, members would be pressured into making incredibly personal — and sometimes, violent — choices at the behest of the top brass.

In a way, Synanon marked the end of a particularly dysfunctional period of addiction treatment; the next era covered, that of the 1990s, paved the way for current treatment standards.

The 1990s: A New Kind Of Recovery

According to a piece published in the Addiction journal in 2007, “recovery advocates who helped birth modern addiction treatment in America expressed concern in the 1990s that something had been lost through the professionalization and commercialization of addiction treatment.”

Ultimately, the realization that addiction science should benefit the treatment and the life trajectory of an individual struggling with substance use disorders and/or mental health conditions — and not necessarily a larger, pharmacological-treatment complex — caught on.

With science, empathy, and open-mindedness at the wheel, many new ideas (the principles behind which may not be so new at all) have emerged on the scene. That brings us from the history of rehab to modern day — and the treatment options available to anyone working to manage substance use disorders and/or mental health conditions in the fast-paced time we live in.

Luxury Rehab And The Future Of Rehab

The medicines and therapies available to the individual seeking treatment for drug or alcohol addiction or for mental health concerns encapsulate the very best of the approaches refined during earlier chapters of history.

Patients may now experience the utmost of what practitioners like Dr. Rush had to offer (without the questionable directives). Exposure to the elements, like cold air and water, along with invigorating physical challenges, can form the basis of adventure therapy.

Furthermore, art and music therapy — like the kind practiced at the Narcotic Farm — have come further than ever; patients can now harness their creativity as a way to manage mood and bring meaning that safely surpasses any sense of satisfaction that drug or alcohol use might have brought.

Finally, group therapy like the kind practiced at Synanon (with the element of peer support and without the element of harassment) can go a long way toward giving valuable psychosocial support to anyone who needs a friend or a listening ear during recovery.

The “new” recovery of the 1990s — a mission based around the individuality and goals of each person going through treatment — has reached higher heights than ever before in the present format of luxury rehabs that tailor their every modality to patient comfort; many centers offer round-the-clock care, compassionate attitudes, and personalized amenities.

You never know which method of treatment, or which treatment center, will be best for you until you try. If you happen to be struggling with a substance use disorder and/or mental health concern, reach out now; contact a treatment provider who can answer your questions and give you a road map of potential treatment options, for free.

The treatment modalities of the future are known best by those who seek help now; by reaching out, you could be part of a new and cutting edge in addition science — the treatment options that benefit you today could soon form the foundation of the modalities that help the patients of tomorrow.

The post The Evolution And History Of Rehab appeared first on Addiction Center.

COVID-19, the disease currently sweeping the world, belongs to the coronavirus family of diseases. A coronavirus causes symptoms which vary from those of the common cold to those of a severe respiratory infection. The newest coronavirus was first detected in China in 2019. The first infections were linked to a live animal market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Since then, COVID-19 has spread to almost 70 nations, including the United States. The signs of coronavirus infection are fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

In more severe cases, coronavirus can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and fatal kidney failure. The symptoms typically appear within 2-14 days of exposure. If you have recently traveled in an area afflicted by coronavirus or you have been in contact with a person who may have COVID-19, call your healthcare professional to get tested.

The coronavirus has arrived in the United States. In February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported community spread (rapid person to person infection) in California, Oregon and Washington, primarily among the elderly. Health officials have quarantined people who test positive for the disease.

Nationwide, the CDC has reported over 100 coronavirus cases, 11 of them fatal. Residents have tested positive for COVID-19 in the following 12 states:

• Arizona
• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Washington
• Wisconsin

Scientists who are studying the new virus have discovered that certain populations are at greater risk for infection, particularly children, the elderly, people with other illnesses, and people with compromised immune systems.

Should Coronavirus Prevent You from Going to Rehab?

With much of the country paralyzed by coronavirus fears, you might think that you should postpone or cancel rehab for alcohol or drug addiction until the crisis subsides. However, at this time, the CDC appears to be managing the spread of the disease, and the risks of alcohol poisoning or a drug overdose far outweigh the risk of contracting coronavirus. According to the CDC, opioid overdoses alone continue to claim over 100 lives in America everyday, and alcohol remains one of the most prodigious killers in the country.

If you are struggling with addiction, you still need help. As always, overcoming addiction could make the difference between life and death, and there is no evidence that rehab facilities are more likely to host coronavirus outbreaks than any other place. Please contact a dedicated treatment provider today to learn more about your options for rehab and get answers to your questions about recovery.

COVID-19 and Drug Abuse

The most vulnerable individuals to coronavirus are those with low immune systems, especially people with a nicotine addiction, since COVID-19 affects the respiratory system. Studies in China have been examining populations affected by the virus and have found that men account for more than half of the cases. Several experts believe this gender disparity is occurring because Chinese men are more likely than women to smoke cigarettes, which weakens the immune system and causes other health issues, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and respiratory difficulties. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease which impairs breathing, so smoking may increase the risk of coronavirus complications.

Smoking marijuana can also increase the risk of contracting coronavirus. Several posts have circulated social media making false claims that CBD (a chemical found in cannabis) has medical properties that can treat coronavirus. Although some studies have shown that CBD can be effective in treating pain and anxiety, there are currently no known treatments or cures for COVID-19. In fact, inhaling hot smoke of any kind can be damaging to your lungs. When smoking marijuana and sharing joints, pipes and paraphernalia, be aware that they may contain saliva and potentially spread virus-bearing germs.

The use of other illicit drugs, such as cocaine, meth, heroin, and hallucinogens, can also put a person at risk for coronavirus. Studies have shown that drugs of abuse alter not just neuropsychological and pathophysiological responses, but immune functions as well. Social practices connected with drug abuse, such as sharing contaminated needles or unprotected sex, also increase exposure to infectious pathogens, including COVID-19.

Prescription Drug Shortages in the U.S.

The spread of COVID-19 in China has negatively impacted the country’s economy and has forced medicine manufacturers to shut down. A shortage of medications in America is a possible result of the coronavirus outbreak. About 90% of active ingredients used by American drug manufacturers originate in China. Although no manufacturing disruptions have led to reported shortages in the U.S. at this time, the Federal Drug and Food Administration (FDA) is currently monitoring supplies of about 20 drugs which are manufactured primarily in China, including generic antibiotics and blood pressure medications.

Many individuals in recovery from addiction rely on prescription drugs for medication-assisted treatment during drug and alcohol detox, or when managing the symptoms of withdrawal.

It is recommended that people who take prescription medications stock-up on supplies if they are able. Unfortunately, there are patients who are not actively seeking care or renewing prescriptions out of fear of leaving the house and being contaminated. This can be dangerous for anyone experiencing withdrawal or complications from substance abuse, such as cardiovascular disease. At this time, it is important to stay up-to-date on refilling prescriptions.

How to Avoid The Virus

Since coronavirus is spread from person to person through respiratory droplets and bodily fluids, you should follow standard sanitary procedures to avoid spreading or contracting COVID-19, including:

• Washing your hands regularly with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds).
• Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Thoroughly cooking meat and eggs.
• Avoiding close contact with anyone who shows symptoms of a respiratory illness.
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Avoid incessantly touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Substance abuse takes a negative toll on your health. A drug-dependent body with a weakened immune system is more likely to contract disease, including COVID-19. If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, treatment for your addiction may be one effective way to avoiding coronavirus if the disease becomes a pandemic. There are many different options for treatment, including outpatient and inpatient rehab, and a rehab center is the ideal environment for someone battling addiction and withdrawal. For more information on treatment options, contact a treatment provider today.

The post Coronavirus Should Not Hinder Your Recovery From Addiction appeared first on Addiction Center.

(Read Integrated Treatment Part 1 here) The integrated treatment approach makes sense from the standpoint of viewing recovery from a holistic approach. This is true for individuals with one disorder or for persons with dual disorders. There are two main points of this type of approach.

First, a person with a mental health disorder can benefit from the goal of abstinence from drugs and/or alcohol. Individuals who are struggling with a mental health disorder will not be able to achieve a lasting recovery if they continue to use substances. Any use is considered abuse. Whether a co-occurring substance use disorder is present or not, a person will benefit from developing healthy alternatives to drug and alcohol abuse. These skills will enhance mental stability and mental wellness.

Second, addiction recovery always includes mental health recovery. People entering treatment for substance use will certainly experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, thinking distortions, mood swings, and self-defeating behavior patterns. This means a person in addiction treatment will benefit from the integrated treatment approach that addresses mental health issues even if they do not have a co-occurring psychiatric disorder.

Reacting To A Diagnosis

A person’s reaction to a particular diagnosis is often influenced by their feelings about a certain illness or disorder. To some people, receiving a psychiatric disorder diagnosis would be frightening because they are unfamiliar with what that would mean for their life or what the treatment might be. For others, it may be a relief because it provides an answer and solutions to the mental health symptoms they have struggled with you for years.

To some people, receiving a diagnosis of substance dependence is the most difficult to accept because it means, “I am just like my mother or father.” The thought of working toward abstinence can be frightening for anyone who feels they can’t cope or face life without the use of alcohol or drugs. Again, for others it may be a relief because it gives them the answers to why they have continued to choose alcohol and drugs over everything else including their family.

Which category of diagnosis would we find the most distressing: substance use or psychiatric disorder? Which specific diagnosis would be the hardest to hear: alcohol dependence, drug dependence, schizophrenia, major depression, anxiety disorder, personality disorder, or bipolar disorder? It can be easy to see that accepting a diagnosis of either a substance or psychiatric disorder or both can be difficult and can also depend on an individual’s view of a specific diagnosis.

Both the mental health and the addiction treatment fields have adopted the recovery model. In this model, individuals are supported in taking responsibility for their own recovery, whether their symptoms are acute or chronic. A person seeking treatment is also encouraged and supported in working a program of recovery for both illnesses.

Overcoming Objections To An Integrated Treatment Approach

People in outpatient and inpatient treatment will often quote percentages they have heard that indicated only a few of them will “make it.” It is important to remember that statistics are numbers and treatment is about human beings. Percentages like these do not represent an accurate picture. They are often based on the total number of people with a particular disorder and not those who are receiving treatment.

Statistics are often based on data from “single treatment.” Treatment for dual disorders, as with all chronic illness, is episodic. This means treatment is receiving on more than one occasion or episode. When a person receives more than one treatment for heart disease, cancer, or diabetes they don’t refer to themselves as “treatment failures.” Society, insurance companies, friends, and families do not count the times a person has received treatment for illnesses as “failed treatments.”

It is important to apply this same principle to the treatment of psychiatric and substance disorders. Treatment is available for psychiatric and substance disorders and recovery is possible. The outlook for people coping with both illnesses is improving daily. Millions of people with co-occurring disorders have traveled the road of recovery. It is a journey well worth the trip. They have changed their old behaviors, attitudes, and thinking patterns. Through an integrated treatment approach, they have learned to make better choices, freed themselves from unmanageability of untreated substance use disorder, developed coping strategies for the symptoms of a mental health disorder, and now lead productive lives.

For more information on treatment options, contact a treatment provider today.

The post Integrated Treatment: Part 2 – The Approach appeared first on Addiction Center.

A person with any illness needs to learn as much as possible about that disorder. Education on psychiatric and substance use disorders is an essential part of the treatment process. It is not important to remember the specific facts of any lesson. Facts are simply statements of something that is real and can be verified or backed up. The goal is to gain an understanding of the illness. Understanding means a person is grasping the overall meaning of the facts. The goal of addressing addiction and mental illness is to provide education on the link between mental illness and addiction, as well as an overall understanding of the importance of an integrated treatment approach.

Why Is Integrated Treatment Necessary?

I believe we have two lives, the one we learn with and the one we live with after that.

Mental illnesses are disorders that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, and ability to relate to others. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are brain disorders that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Substance use disorders include substance abuse and substance dependence. Substance abuse is a behavioral problem and substance dependence is a medical disorder of the brain. Substance abuse and dependence results in unhealthy patterns of alcohol and other drug use that lead to significant impairment and distress.

Substance disorders are linked with psychiatric or mental disorders and symptoms in ways that can include: masking or covering up of a mental illness, keeping a person from receiving proper treatment, mimicking or imitating a psychiatric disorder, worsening mental health disorders by increasing symptoms like mood swings, anxiety, paranoia, depression, unusual behavior, illogical thinking, hallucinations, and mental confusion, and complicating the treatment of psychiatric disorders by making treatment planning more difficult, reducing the effectiveness of medications, and preventing a person from developing coping strategies to manage a mental health disorder

It can be difficult to tell where a substance disorder stops and psychiatric disorder begins. How does a person know if depression is the result of substance abuse, substance withdrawal, or a diagnosable depressive disorder? How can a person tell if anxiety is the result of cocaine abuse or an anxiety disorder? How does a person recognize the difference between the mood swings caused from the abused of alcohol (a depressant) and cocaine (a stimulant) or a bipolar disorder? That’s right, it’s hard to tell the difference!

Only by reducing substance abuse or working towards abstinence does it become clear if the symptoms were caused by continued alcohol and another drug use. If mental health symptoms are still present after abstinence, it may be possible a person has a co-occurring psychiatric disorder, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Why mention the goal of abstinence early with individuals that may be in the pre-contemplation stages of change? The process of establishing the goal of abstinence is often a long and tortuous one; it should begin as early as possible. Identifying the goal of abstinence does not, of course, demand threatening those in recovery with rejection, demanding agreements, or exacting promises of compliance. It means explaining to those in recovery the value of abstinence and offering help to achieve it.

What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis is when a person has a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. Each disorder is primary and independent of the other disorder. This means each disorder has a life of its own and is not dependent on the other disorder for its cause, continuation, or progression. Each disorder does not have an affect on the other in the disease process, as well as in the recovery process, in the same way other co-occurring medical illnesses affect each other like diabetes and heart disease.

This is the reason a dual diagnosis requires dual treatment. Long-term, simultaneous treatment of psychiatric disorders and substance disorders are necessary for success. Serious and Persistent Mental Illnesses (SPMI) like schizophrenia or mood disorders, as well as substance dependence, are medical disorders. At first that statement may sound strange, but it is important to begin to think of these illnesses as medical disorders.

First, it is true that these disorders are medical disorders of the brain. All organs of the body can experience a disorder, malfunction, imbalance, or deficiency that results in either a short or long-term illness. For example, pancreatitis is a medical disorder of the organ called the pancreas. A heart condition is the result of the malfunction of the heart. Diseases of the thyroid are caused by an imbalance in the thyroid gland. Diabetes result from a deficiency in the pancreases. Likewise, the brain is also an organ of the body and can be vulnerable to disorders, malfunctions, imbalances, or deficiencies. serious and persistent mental illnesses (SPMI) and substance dependence are also medical disorders of an organ of the body…the brain.

Second, it helps a person to understand they are not their illness. A disease, illness, or disorder does not define a person. A person with diabetes is a person first. The same is true for a medical disorder of the brain, whether it is a mental illness, addiction, or both. A person is still an individual with unique qualities and strengths. They are simply a person with a medical problem that needs treatment and a recovery plan.

Third, identifying these disorders as medical disorders leads to acceptance. It is not helpful for people to judge themselves for having a medical condition. This is true for all illnesses, but especially psychiatric and substance disorders. Judgmental thinking may be a caused by a mistaken weak character in the case of a psychiatric disorder or weak willpower in the case of substance dependence. Understanding that both disorders are medical disorders can lead to a non-judgmental acceptance. Acceptance can then pave the way for the willingness for integrated treatment for those who need it the most.

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The biochemistry of addiction has several parts that play a role in the way in which someone becomes addicted and how they recover and remain sober. Many aspects of a person’s life can create a positive or negative affect on the recovery process as a whole such as a their family, physical health, spiritual health, friendships, mental health, family history, support system, self-esteem, and et cetera. The primary influence in the development of addictive disorders is biological or neurochemical. This is because addiction can be in preexisting deficiencies in the neurotransmission of the brain. Addictions are primarily addictive responses to substances or behaviors in biologically susceptible people, regardless of their character or personality. This means the foundation for addictive disorders was built before the person ever drank or used drugs.

How Do Psychiatric and Addictive Disorders Develop?

When people develop a psychiatric disorder, it is also primarily related to the neurotransmission system not functioning properly. Malfunctions in this system means too many or too few brain chemicals lead to specific disorders, such as the depressive or manic episodes related to a bipolar disorder. When neurotransmitters are out of balance, the messages they carry become distorted and the world may not make sense, such as in the case of a thought disorder like schizophrenia.

Psychiatric and addictive disorders run in many families in the same way as other medical problems like diabetes and hypertension. It is believed that some people inherit this “predisposition” or tendency to develop certain illnesses. What is likely to be inherited is the biological component of serious and persistent psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorders, as well as substance dependence. A genetic predisposition to a specific disorder does not mean a parent with a psychiatric or substance disorder will always have children with these same disorders. It simply means their children are much more likely to develop the same disorder than children born to parents who do not have these disorders.

Heredity is transported through genes, a crucial aspect of the biochemistry of addiction. Genes are a set of instructions within the cells that direct the manufacture of every structure of the human body. The knowledge that genes influence either common or uncommon behavior across the entire animal spectrum from the lowly fruit fly all the way to humans has long been established. There is no single gene for a specific psychiatric or substance-related disorder. It is a combination of genes that may cause an exaggerated response to stress and an increased susceptibility to these disorders.

Factors Involved In The Development of Psychiatric And Mental Health Disorders

Psychological is the mental and emotional part of a person. The development of psychiatric or substance disorders is influenced, in part, by a person’s beliefs about the world and themselves, how they think, their personality, the ways they cope with stress or problems, and how they act. These factors also influence the course and severity of a disorder, as well as a person’s response to treatment.

Genetics play the major role in the workings of the brain, but they do not tell the whole story of the person. The building of a structure so complex as the human brain needs additional information to complete its formation. This additional information comes from life experiences since each brain is built and changed through life by the interaction of genes with the environment. Multiple genes act together with environmental factors or developmental events to convert risk into actual illnesses.

Aspects of the environment ranging from social influences, life stressors, cultural factors, and early life experiences, such as child abuse, may nudge genes into action and produce disorders. Social interactions with other people also mold behaviors and change the structure of the brain. This is the fundamental reason why psychological “talk” therapy works in changing the brain combined with interactions in group therapy.

An individual’s responses to these disorders are affected by factors like family, community, living environment, and culture. The cultural attitude of the family toward medical disorders of the brain can affect how a person feels about their own disorders. These factors play a significant role in the severity and course of a disorder, as well as the recovery from these illnesses. The earlier a person begins to use substances and the attitudes towards that use also will have a great deal to do with the severity and progression of substance dependence. For more information on treatment options, contact a treatment provider today.

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Young people experimenting with drugs and alcohol is nothing new; however, social networking sites are offering new and dangerous opportunities for adolescents to be exposed to drugs. Teens are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of what they see on social media, as this age group is highly susceptible to peer influences and pressure. Sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat provide an environment where kids are exposed to famous and normal people alike engaging in risky behaviors involving drugs and alcohol.

Celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Drake, and Cardi B consistently post pictures of themselves drinking and getting high on a variety of platforms, and that’s starting to influence the young people that are viewing it. Additionally, adolescents are not only exposed to celebrities and “influencers” engaging in this behavior, but also their friends and families. This kind of content normalizes and glamorizes behavior such as illicit and prescription drug use as well as binge drinking, making teens wrongly believe it’s appropriate to do the same.

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A study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that teenagers who regularly use popular social media outlets were more likely to drink, use drugs, and buy tobacco than adolescents who either did not use social media or used it less frequently. The survey asked 2,000 adolescents about their drug use and social media habits and 70% said that they use social media on any given day. Researchers found that, compared to nonusers or infrequent users of social media, this group was:

• 5 times more likely to buy cigarettes.
• 3 times more likely to drink.
• 2 times as likely to use marijuana.

In addition to drug exposure through marketing and advertising, social media is the catalyst for many mental health problems that can lead to substance abuse. Social media perpetuates social comparison in a world where everything is curated, which is particularly problematic for teens who are more prone to depressive cognitions in the face of social comparison. Social media use is associated with mental health issues including depression, sleep disturbance, and disordered eating among young people.

Rates Of Teen Social Media Use

Social media use amongst teens is nearly universal today. About 92% of adolescent users report checking social networking sites more than once a day. Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are the top social media platforms for young adults.

Social Media Ads And #FOMO Can Lead To Drug Use

For young, impressionable people, seeing their friends and family in Facebook posts or Instagram pictures having fun while partying can tempt them to make risky choices in an effort to fit in. For others, it can depress them to the point that they turn to drugs or alcohol for solace.

Although drinking and smoking amongst teens has been an age-old issue, social media has begun to desensitize children to these activities at a younger age — 90% of the kids surveyed saw these types of photos of their peers online before they were even 16 years old. Nearly half of all teens who have seen such pictures perceived that the kids in the photos “are having a good time.” Teens who have come across these kinds of photos are 4 times more likely to have used marijuana and 3 times more likely to have consumed alcohol compared to kids who had not viewed this type of picture.

In addition to being exposed to these acts by their peers, the ads found on social media can also encourage underage drinking and drug use. Tobacco, electronic cigarettes (especially those marketed by Juul), and alcohol manufacturers have widely integrated social media platforms into marketing strategies that are fully accessible to teens. Through the use of social media advertising, these industries are able to market to youth, despite the fact that direct marketing to minors is against the law.

A study performed by Michigan State University found that people who were shown Facebook ads promoting beer were more likely to indulge in an alcoholic beverage than those who viewed bottled water ads. After seeing the Facebook ads, the 121 test subjects were given a choice between receiving a gift card for a coffee shop or a bar as compensation for their participation in the study. While 73% of those who saw the beer ads chose the bar gift certificate, only 55% of those who viewed water ads selected the bar as well. Exposure to substance use imagery is associated with subsequent onset in use, which is why there are limitations on advertising such products in the media to minors; however, social media is proving harder to regulate.

Celebrities also promote drug and alcohol use on social media sites, which young people see and are often encouraged by. Celebrity advertising makes smoking and drinking seem like fun, cool activities, which can subtly pressure teens to experiment with the same products.  Many digital ads use celebrities, music industry personnel, and attractive young models to promote their products – all of which have been shown to be effective marketing strategies among children and teenagers. In fact, research has revealed that advertising may be responsible for up to 30% of adolescent tobacco and alcohol use.

Social Media Can Contribute To Poor Mental Health

Research has shown that there is an undeniable link between social media use, negative mental health, and low self-esteem – all of which can drive underage substance use. When teens are struggling with emotional problems, they will often turn to drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism to help manage their difficult feelings. Frequently checking social media platforms and comparing oneself to others can make young people feel increasingly unhappy and isolated.

Social media not only can cause unhappiness and a general dissatisfaction with life in users, but also increase the risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. In fact, an estimated 27% of children who spend 3 or more hours a day on social media exhibit symptoms of poor mental health. Kids who are depressed or suffer from anxiety (both of which are often exacerbated by social media use) may then attempt to use alcohol or other drugs to cheer themselves up.

Children with adolescent depression know there’s something wrong with them. They’re not taking pleasure in things; they’re not feeling happy. So if their peers are offering a drug that makes them happy, that’s often the first thing they turn to.

In addition to feelings of social isolation and depression, social media has also been found to be associated with negative body image in young adults. The ongoing exposure to unrealistic beauty standards through visual sites like Instagram can affect how teenagers perceive themselves and cause them to develop low self-esteem or eating disorders. Much like adolescent depression, individuals with low self-esteem may have trouble overcoming negative thoughts and feelings. Subsequently, in an effort to forget or change those feelings, they turn to drugs or alcohol as means of escape. Substance use can seemingly help to quiet the negative thoughts in young users with poor mental health. However, self-medicating with drugs and alcohol only temporarily alleviates those symptoms, and chronic use actually makes them worse.

Talk To Your Kids And Monitor Social Media Use

Social media is providing increased opportunities for both the marketing and display of risky behaviors regarding drugs and alcohol for young people. With social media increasingly integrated into the lives of today’s teens, what they view on these sites is more important than ever.

The best way to protect your children from these influences is by having open communication and educating them on the risks of substance abuse. However, if your child is struggling with excessive alcohol or drug use, simply talking to them might not be enough and may require professional help. For more information on online therapy options for substance use, mental health concerns, or social media addiction, click here.

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Addiction to drugs or alcohol occurs for many reasons, but regardless of the motivation behind substance use disorders, chemical dependencies unfold in various ways depending on the substance abused and how each person reacts to the chemical. A point worth noting is each drug or alcohol would have a physical, emotional and physical effect on the body. Typically, when each individual uses a substance, they may not become dependent right away. Although every person and every case is different, most who suffer from substance use disorders go through some form of 5 stages of addiction.

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The First Stage: A Pattern

One of the first signs of an emerging dependence to a drug is the patterns one begins to display. First-time use of an addictive substance like Heroin can encourage one to start a pattern of use. A patient prescribed a legal drug may up their dosage due to the powerful feelings of euphoria they feel. Soon, one displays patterns of regular use of a substance. With a chemical like Oxycodone, an individual may have track marks in their arm; have bloodshot eyes; suffered extreme weight loss, and definitely started to abuse more amounts of the drug.

The Second Stage: Risky Use And Recklessness

In some cases, people battling substance use disorders may combine multiple drugs together like Cocaine or Meth for a more powerful experience. This leads to the second sign of addiction—risky use. When someone uses more than 1 drug—called poly drug use—they are greatly increasing their risk of a fatal overdose. The body is not meant to handle the harm of one dangerous chemical, let alone several dangerous chemicals at once. Risky drug use does not only involve poly drug use, however. It can involve reckless behavior combined with frequent substance use. People drinking and driving are examples of the effects of a pattern of substance abuse with an action that impacts others.

The Third Stage: Tolerance

Because of frequent use, individuals abusing harmful chemicals may realize their tolerance levels have increased. Individuals may find themselves seeking higher amounts of the substance, or experiment with other chemicals that provide similar effects. One’s tolerance level can create major emotional and physical effects, as their brains have become altered by the abused substance. At this point, he or she may not be able to go a day without the substance, slowly increasing their desire to use.

The Fourth Stage: Dependence

The fourth stage of addiction is dependence. At this stage, individuals now have a substance use disorder. They take the substance frequently and increase their amount to maintain it. Additionally, people with a dependence endure painful withdrawal symptoms if they try to taper use. For a substance like Cocaine that produces anxiety and depression, along with weight loss and insomnia when us is discontinued, many continue to abuse a chemical to avoid these symptoms.

The Final Stage: A Disorder

The final and most detrimental stage is a full-blown substance use disorder. This is the stage where one’s life and family have been the most impacted. The individual with the substance use disorder may have behavioral problems caused by or related to their addition.

Children with substance use disorders may drop out of school, lie, steal, or risk their safety in their pursuit of getting drugs. Others become homeless, as they are unable to maintain jobs or go to school. In extreme situations, women may resort to unhealthy relationships. Some may resort to prostitution or selling drugs to others to fuel their disorder.

This is the most damaging phase, as the body and mind are ravaged by alcohol, heroin, methamphetamines, or Opioids. There is a loss of control and an inability to function in healthy ways. Feelings of helplessness and isolation increase, and one can feel desperate.

Escape The 5 Stages Of Addiction Today

Despite substance abuse disorders creating damage to the mind and body and creating challenging relationships, recovery is possible. This can be done with rehab and cutting-edge therapies. To find out more about rehab-related options, contact a treatment provider today.

The post Identifying The 5 Stages Of Addiction appeared first on Addiction Center.