Many people who abuse prescription drugs like benzodiazepines and painkillers are also living with co-occurring disorders. Some common issues that plague these drug abusers and addicts include:
- Anxiety
- Sleep disorders
- Depression
A recent study published in Clinical Psychiatry News has found that directed treatment that addresses the issues underlying and related to those conditions may help those who struggle with benzo addiction and/or use of opioid drugs.
This kind of comprehensive treatment can be a crucial instrument in helping patients to overcome both their addiction issue and the mental health problems that may trigger relapse or hinder ongoing recovery.
The Study
The study looked at 193 patients and found that about half of the participants struggled with benzodiazepine abuse and/or painkiller abuse and had continually or intermittently abused the drugs during the five years prior to the start of the study. These patients reported that their reasons for abusing prescription pills included:
- Reducing anxiety
- Reducing forgetfulness
- Improving feelings of security
- Increasing relaxation
It was found through the course of the study that if these issues were treated then patients would have fewer cravings and lower their abuse of prescription drugs.
Drug Abuse and Co-Occurring Disorders
When a person is struggling with drug abuse or drug addiction, it’s easy to focus only on the drug usage and miss the big picture. In many of these cases, patients are attempting to self-medicate underlying mental health symptoms or a disorder by numbing their experience of these issues rather than addressing them proactively.
In fact, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 8.9 million people suffer from both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder at the same time. Sadly, the same agency also reports that only 7.4 percent of these individuals will receive treatment for both conditions, while a whopping 55.8 percent won’t receive treatment of any kind.
The most effective way to address the issue of substance abuse and a co-occurring disorder is to opt for a treatment program that includes both medical care for the physical dependence but also an intensive and varied psychotherapeutic treatment program that can be tailored to the needs of the individual patient.
Common Co-Occurring Disorders
There are many different mental health disorders that can co-occur with a substance use disorder. Some of the most common include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Eating disorders
- Agoraphobia
- Borderline personality disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Impulse control disorder
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
What to Do When Someone You Love Is Suffering
Here at Axis, we offer intensive rehabilitation for those who are struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. Call now to learn more about our unique program.
