Dual Diagnosis Rehabs in Arizona Discuss Addiction & Anxiety
Dual diagnosis rehabs in Arizona are successfully treating individuals suffering from a dual diagnosis of substance addiction and anxiety. Following commonly agreed-upon best practices of dual diagnosis care, treatment facilities can effectively treat both conditions at the same time. This may very well be because of the prevalence of the combination of mental disorders and substance abuse.
Substance Abuse and Mental Illness
A research report titled, “Part 1: The Connection Between Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness,” released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, (NIH) stated that “Data from a large nationally representative sample suggested that people with mental, personality, and substance use disorders were at an increased risk for nonmedical use of prescription opioids. Research indicates that 43 percent of people in SUD treatment for nonmedical use of prescription painkillers have a diagnosis or symptoms of mental health disorders, particularly depression and anxiety.”[1]
Why is there such a high correlation between substance abuse and anxiety? Does anxiety lead to substance abuse because of the propensity towards self-medication? Or does substance abuse lead to anxiety because of guilt and/or anger over falling prey to substance abuse? Most likely, the answers will vary from person to person. Particularly for young adults, the anxiety from peer pressure often leads to substance use and abuse from the pressure of needing to “fit in.”
Dual Diagnosis and Youth
The NIH also stated, “…the onset of mental illness and substance abuse disorders often occurs during adolescence, and people who develop problems earlier typically have a greater risk for severe problems as adults.”
America’s youth has very likely never faced the amount of social pressure they are now. This pressure is due in part largely to social media. They feel the need to portray the perfect person: happy, fulfilled, and having an endless amount of fun and joy. All while they are enduring a period of pressure-filled self-discovery.
It’s no wonder anxiety is so prevalent among young adults. According to healthtalk.org, “Anxiety disorders are among the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions; about 30% of young adults age 18-29 have them.”[2]
Young adults also face living in a society where the availability of drugs, both prescription and illicit, has never been greater. It is no doubt a factor in why dual diagnosis occurs so frequently.
The Widespread Availability of Drugs
In another research report published by the NIH in 2018 titled “Increased Drug Availability is Associated With Increased Use and Overdose, they cited, “From 1991 to 2011, there was a near tripling of opioid prescriptions dispensed by U.S. pharmacies: from 76 million to 219 million prescriptions. In parallel with this increase, there was also a near tripling of opioid-related deaths over the same period.”[3] Undoubtedly, many of those who have been exposed to this proliferation of prescribed opioids have also developed a pattern of abuse.
In addition to the problem of abuse from prescribed opiates, there is also a problematic source which makes them readily available for anyone with a broadband connection. In June of 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration provided a news release which read, “The U.S Food and Drug Administration and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) are launching a 120-day pilot to help reduce the availability of unapproved opioids illegally offered for sale online.” It is readily apparent that those with a mental disorder can access highly addictive opioids both legally and illegally.
Dual Diagnosis Rehabs in Arizona
Based on the statistics above, young adults struggling with anxiety, a full 30% of that populace, have ready access to highly addictive substances. And these substances are available in the form of distribution larger than we ever imagined – through the Internet. Suffering from anxiety and substance abuse is a condition that many people experience. Fortunately, there is help available.
Silver Sands Recovery in Prescott, Arizona, has an experienced staff dedicated to helping those struggling with a dual diagnosis of drug abuse and anxiety. Trained therapists offer treatment with compassion and respect to all individuals that turn to the facility for treatment. Contact Silver Sands today to learn more about their dual diagnosis treatment program.
SOURCES:
[1] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/common-comorbidities-substance-use-disorders/part-1-connection-between-substance-use-disorders-mental-illness
[2] https://healthtalk.org/young-adults-experiences-depression-us/depression-and-anxiety
[3] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-opioids-heroin/increased-drug-availability-associated-increased-use-overdose
About the author:
Lisa Waknin is the Founder and Director of Silver Sands Recovery, located in Prescott, Arizona. Lisa started Silver Sands Recovery after immersing herself in the addiction treatment world for several years to figure out what could be done differently to help her daughter and others like her to overcome addiction and stay sober. She believes in a hands-on treatment approach, which includes taking someone out of their environment, providing a 90-day program in a structured environment. During treatment, clients not only recover physically but also learn to live their life again. Lisa is a sought-after expert speaker for recovery support groups, charities, schools, communities, and companies wanting to educate themselves on the explosion of opiate and heroin abuse in our country and the best way to understand, treat, and beat it.
