Studies have shown that one in every two individuals who use illegal drugs meet the criteria for at least one form of mental health disturbance. While this may come as a surprise, the dynamics involved in drug abuse can lead to mental health issues. Many individuals seek out drugs as a means of self-medicating conditions such as depression, anxiety or mania, as the chemical compounds of illicit drugs counteract such symptoms. Conversely, prolonged drug use can trigger a host of mental disturbances – from drug-triggered schizophrenia in those genetically predisposed to the condition to amotivational syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder. Regardless of the reasons that mental health conditions coexist alongside drug addiction in a given individual, such instances – known as “dual diagnosis” cases – require concurrent, specialized treatment to resolve.

The Brain’s Chemical Response to Drug Use

Almost all illegal drugs affect the brain’s chemical messengers, known as neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are responsible for regulating a host of functions throughout the body, including mood, energy levels, and cognition. Because drugs cause serious fluctuations in neurochemistry, the brain begins to alter natural production of neurotransmitters. When drug use ceases – whether for a single day or for weeks during the detoxification period – the brain registers and demonstrates the chemical deficiency. Users experience cravings for the drug as natural brain chemistry production levels are felt in the absence of the drug, often unveiling themselves in the form of depression, anxiety, delusions or mood swings. However, once the brain re-achieves chemical balance in the absence of compensating drugs, psychiatric symptoms and temporary disorders – such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or clinical depression – can lift.

Preexisting Mental Health Issues at Drug Rehab Facilities

For some individuals, detoxification does not correct the chemical imbalance, behavioral disorder or other mental health disorder they might battle. In many of these cases, drugs have been used in an unsuccessful attempt to escape the symptoms of very real psychological conditions. Dual diagnosis cases can range from dysthymia (moderate depression) and learning disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to instances of bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder (BPD). When such conditions are properly identified, diagnosed and treated, patients often experience a lowered drive to use drugs as they readjust brain chemistry through medication and learn healthier coping skills for their conditions through therapy.

Intensive Therapy for Dual Diagnosis Cases at Drug Rehab Facilities

For some patients, emotional wounds, rather than chemical imbalances, have led to cases of dual diagnosis. Clinical therapists can work with patients on an individualized level, customizing addiction therapies according to their mental health needs. In some cases, trauma survival, childhood abuse, sexual assault and formative or developmental issues can lie at the heart of drug addiction. The drive for emotional numbness and psychological escape can stem from unresolved issues that patients need to work through in therapy. As they learn to re-contextualize life challenges and childhood issues, many individuals heal at depths that eliminate the need to use drugs. Patients can also learn anger management skills, stress reduction techniques, mindfulness meditation strategies and conflict-resolution skills that can help them approach daily life in a way that allows them to successfully transcend their mental health conditions.