One in five Americans is mentally ill, making them three times more susceptible to substance abuse or addiction.

Dual diagnosis treatment (aka the treatment of co-occurring disorders) is not just a trend. While the terms may seem like buzzwords within the treatment community, the approach is here to stay. One of the reasons is that mental health issues aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

A new report suggests that one in five adults in the United States (nearly 50 million people) suffered mental illnesses in the past year, with women and young adults suffering disproportionately.

The survey was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and it found women were more likely than men to have experienced a mental illness, while the rate of mental illness among people aged 18 to 25 was twice that of those aged 50 and older.

The survey also found that five percent of American adults, or 11.4 million people, had suffered a serious mental illness in the past year that substantially interfered with their lives.
As substance abuse experts know all too well, Americans suffering mental illnesses are three times more likely to develop substance dependence or substance abuse disorders than adults who have not experienced mental illness.

For the study, SAMHSA surveyed 67,500 people aged 12 and older in person around the United States.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment at The Canyon

If you or someone you love needs help with addiction and mental health issues, call The Canyon at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment for co-occurring disorders, financing or insurance.

There’s an ongoing heated debate about whether or not the internet and video games are as addictive as cocaine or heroin. There’s a lot of passion on both sides of the argument, but one recent development in the gaming world only further likens the playing of games like World of Warcraft with the use and abuse of illicit substances including alcohol.

The First One’s Free: New WOW Deal Compared to Crack

One distributer is offering a World of Warcraft Starter Edition, which allows new players to play up to Level 20 – for free. Does that marketing tactic sound familiar? It’s a stereotype of that crack dealers would often offer new people their first hit of crack for free, trusting that it would take only one use for their customer to become an addict and be compelled to pay for tons of crack to maintain that addiction. The move on the part of the distributer to allow players to get hooked for free, banking on the addictive nature of the game to compel them to buy the full version later, has only fueled the argument that online gaming can become an addiction for some – and one that requires addiction treatment just like alcoholism or crystal meth addiction.

Co-occurring Disorders: Online Addiction and Drug Addiction

No matter how much time is spent online, there are some who refuse to see an activity like online gaming – or doing anything with a computer, for that matter – as fitting the definition of a true addiction that requires physical detox and/ or psychological addiction treatment. To those people, others would point out the negative consequences of too much time spent in front of the computer – the deadliest of which includes the development of an active drug addiction in order to increase the amount of online activity. Many who are online all day and all night tend to forego the need for sleep and food by taking stimulant drugs that decrease appetite like crystal meth, cocaine, or stimulant medications. The development of a drug addiction in order to gain assistance in a sustained presence online can soon lead to all the health problems including psychological issues and malnutrition that plague anyone else taking these drugs.

Treating Online Addictions Alongside Drug Addiction

It’s important to address the psychological needs that are met by spending copious amounts of time online at drug rehab when help is sought for drug addiction. Without dealing with the need for anonymity, self-esteem issues, et cetera, it’s only a matter of time before the patient will again be on the computer and once again crave the drugs that allow him or her to spend days on end indulging in his or her favorite online activity.

Contact us today at The Canyon to learn more about what Dual Diagnosis Rehab can do for you.

Jeff Conaway, famous for his role in the movie Grease, the TV show, Taxi, recently died after remaining in a coma for days. Perhaps due in part to his longstanding addiction to painkillers and his stint on Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab on VH1, the biggest discussion is whether or not his death was due to a drug overdose. Most news reports stated from the outset that a drug overdose put Conaway in the hospital, but Dr. Drew himself visited Conaway in the hospital and offered a different story, saying that the issue was not directly related to drug addiction.

Judging from his family’s behavior, it appears that some in Conaway’s family may have a different theory. Before his passing, Conaway’s ex-wife and sister filed a restraining order against his ex-girlfriend, Vikki Lizzi. She had been visiting him in the hospital since he was admitted but the restraining order put a quick stop to that – even though Lizzi had power of attorney over Conaway’s estate and wanted to continue to visit him. After his death, the two women worked to get an autopsy for Conaway to figure out exactly how and why he died. Was it the power of attorney that had the women in Conaway’s life worried about Lizzi’s motives? Or was it her erratic behavior and her own drug addiction – both chronicled on Celebrity Rehab when she visited Conaway during his drug rehab stay and spoke with Dr. Drew? Perhaps it was the ongoing court battle that Conaway had started against Lizzi, alleging that his ex had injected him with painkillers and planted cocaine in the home they once shared.

For her part, some reports say that Lizzi believes that Conaway was given the drugs that ultimately caused his alleged overdose by a man he was staying with after the relationship between Conaway and Lizzi fell apart.

Still other reports say that Conaway’s coma and eventual death were suicidal in nature, that Conaway had purposely taken more drugs than he could handle in an effort to end his life. He was still on the mend after a near-fatal fall last year and, clearly, his home life was anything but calm and supportive.

No matter the cause of Conaway’s death, his life serves as a caution for those who are struggling with prescription drug addiction due to chronic pain. Treatment that is effective and ongoing is necessary, not only to preserve life but to improve quality of life. It’s not easy, but it is possible. If you would like to learn more about our painkiller addiction treatment program here at The Canyon, contact us today for more information.

Treating both an addiction and an affective or mood disorder can be difficult without choosing a Dual Diagnosis Treatment center. At a Dual Diagnosis program, patients can get help for their issues with addiction as well as the symptoms of their mood disorder. Because affective disorders embrace a whole spectrum of disorders related to mood – from depression to mania – it is exceedingly important that patients opt for a Dual Diagnosis rehab that offers them the personalized care, medication and therapy that they need to heal.

Medications play an important role in the care and treatment of mood disorders, with or without the presence of a co-occurring drug or alcohol addiction. Mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medications, and antidepressants all go a long way toward helping the patient to feel more comfortable in their bodies and adjust more quickly to life without their drug of choice. Already a difficult time, even for those who are not also living with an affective disorder, it is important for those who have both problems to take all the help that is available – including medications.

Types of Medications Prescribed for Affective Disorders at Dual Diagnosis Rehab

No one will be prescribed all of the medications listed below because each one addresses issues associated with a different mood disorder on the spectrum. However, anyone with an affective disorder will benefit greatly from the medication designed to help them manage symptoms related to their issue.

• Mood stabilizers. Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, often benefits from mood stabilizers like lithium, Depakote, Neurontin, Tegretol, Trileptal, and Lamictal. These drugs may be used in combination to assist the patient in finding a state of balance in their lives.
• Atypical antipsychotics. Those who struggle with mania, bipolar disorder, or bipolar II disorder often benefit from this class of medications which includes drugs like Seroquel, Risperdal, Abilify, and Zyprexa, to name a few. These medications help patients to lower their anxiety levels and get better sleep, while others also address the issue of depression.
• Antidepressants. Two types of antidepressants are often utilized in the treatment of major depression and the depression state experienced by those with bipolar disorder: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Both have different mechanisms of action in the brain but achieve the same effect: a non-addictive solution to depression.

If you would like to learn more about how medications can benefit drug addiction treatment and mood or affective disorder treatment here at Michael’s House, contact us today. We offer Dual Diagnosis Treatment to those who are ready to make progress in their recovery from drug addiction and a psychological disorder. Call now.

Greg Giraldo, insult comic and former lawyer, died after he experienced complications from a prescription drug overdose. He was found unconscious in his New Jersey hotel room and remained nonresponsive after being taken to a hospital in New York. He died September 29, 2010, in the hospital.

According to The Examiner, Giraldo’s overdose occurred while he was having a party in his hotel room after his first performance at a charity event promoting drug addiction recovery.

Giraldo was well-known for his stand-up comedy and his performances on Comedy Central “celebrity roasts,” in which such performers as Pamela Anderson, David Hasselhoff and Joan Rivers were celebrated through comedy routines.

Giraldo was also a judge on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” The producers of that show released a statement that said: “Greg was one of the most talented comedians of our time. He was truly brilliant. His work will surely continue to influence and inspire us. We will miss our friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Prescription Drug Overdoses Don’t Just Happen to Addicts

A longtime proponent of alcohol addiction recovery, Giraldo was also a Harvard Law School graduate and the father of three small children. While he was in recovery for alcohol addiction, the prescription drug overdose is considered accidental. It is not believed that he abused the prescription purposely but experienced complications as a result of the drug.

Giraldo’s death can serve as a lesson to those left behind. If someone who was well aware of their fragile status as an addict, an intelligent person with a Harvard degree, and a longstanding career in activism against alcohol abuse could still inadvertently overdose after taking a prescribed drug, what a slippery slope it must be for those who purposely abuse their prescription drug prescriptions or take opiate or stimulant medication without a prescription.

Prescription Drug Addiction and Prescription Drug Addiction

If you are addicted to your opiate painkillers or to a stimulant prescription, the only way to ensure that you will not experience a prescription drug overdose is to stop using your prescription with the assistance of a prescription drug rehab program. Opiate detox and prescription drug detox at a medical treatment facility will give you the assistance you need to make sure that you not only stop using your prescription unsafely but they provide you with a detox plan that is efficient and healthfully designed.

Please do not stop taking your prescription without the assistance of medical professionals. Especially in the case of opiate painkillers, the possibility of complications is a serious consideration and the result can be fatal if the opiate detox is not done correctly.

Prescription Drug Rehab at The Canyon

At The Canyon, we offer a number of drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs. For those living with prescription drug addiction, we have an inpatient prescription drug rehab that includes drug detox and drug addiction treatment. Call us to find out more about our opiate painkiller addiction treatment program and our stimulant addiction rehab here at The Canyon.

The Hills star Heidi Pratt has gotten a lot of guff for her plastic surgery ventures of late. But the new focus of those conversations have turned to her recovery from surgery. Specifically, friends of hers co-cast members have voiced concerns (or would it better be termed “catty gossip”) that Heidi is relying a bit too heavily on her painkillers post surgery.

While one show insider is reported as describing Heidi as a “shell of her former self,” Heidi’s reps are reportedly firing back that these comments are “completely ridiculous.”

But one source says that Heidi has been exhibiting increasingly odd behavior of late. The source describes Heidi and Spencer, her husband, as having “crossed over to this bizarre place.”

Recognizing Painkiller Addiction

Agreeing to undergo 10 plastic surgery procedures in one days is admittedly extreme, but is it really a sign of painkiller addiction? No, say Heidi’s reps, but sources are saying that the painkiller abuse is just one of her odd quirks that happened as a result of the strange decision to undergo so much surgery in order to get media attention.

Says the source: “They are addicted to the fame. As The Hills winds down and people start to care less, they are desperate to get back that high.”

The Signs and Symptoms of Painkiller Addiction

Attention-seeking behavior is not exactly a sign or a symptom of painkiller addiction. It’s not even a sign of drug abuse. Alcohol can cause people to behave loudly or obnoxiously in public (hence the “drunk in public” citation) and people can make poor decisions under the influence, but many who choose opiates and other sedative-type drugs like prescription painkillers are just as likely to want to blend into the woodwork as land on the cover of a tabloid.

There are more definitive ways to determine whether or not someone you care about is abusing prescription painkillers. Painkillers are opiate-based and include prescription drugs like OxyContin, Vicodin, hydrocodone, Percocet and others. They generally sedate those who take them, and those who take too many or take them too often may appear “out of it” or tired. They may “nod out” and be unable to focus on conversations and appear unfocused on what they are doing. They may forget things that were said or commitments they made. Hand-eye coordination is impaired and as a result accidents of all kinds can occur. Financial issues soon develop because prescription pills are not cheap and those who are taking copious amounts of them are rarely able to go to work every day or do well if they do.

These kinds of behaviors when they are uncharacteristic and not attributable to anything else can signify painkiller addiction in your loved one’s life.

Treating Painkiller Addiction

Painkiller addiction is best treated at an holistic inpatient drug rehab that specializes in opiate addiction and detox. Here you can receive the medical care you need to make sure that your physiological symptoms are taken care of as well as the psychological dependence. Call now for more information.

The Internet is the best way to find information, stay in touch with people, track down anything you could possibly want to buy, watch videos and play games. With so much to offer, many people find themselves online at least once a day, but for some, the Internet becomes an obsession. More and more time spent online means less time spent on in-person relationships, work, school, hobbies. All of these areas of life suffer in service of being online. The cravings and compulsion to check email, connect on forums or social networking sites, play games, et cetera, can be overwhelming to some and devastating to the structure of the lives. Though some think classifying excessive internet use as addiction is overstating the matter, many who live with the problem struggle with the same recurring issues as those who live with drug or alcohol addiction.

Internet Addiction and Social Issues

For many, addiction begins as a way to socially lubricate in a social situation. Feeling awkward in public or experiencing anxiety when communicating with others can make even the most innocuous new encounter extremely uncomfortable. Alcohol and drugs are often a way to ease the discomfort and make social interactions more comfortable.

The Internet offers those with social issues a way to meet people without feeling uncomfortable. The anonymity of online interactions makes it easier to maintain relationships, share similar interests and converse in a way that is impossible in person. This feeling of comfort and self empowerment can be addicting and many begin to shirk other responsibilities in order to remain in this “comfort zone.”

How Many Internet Addicts Are There?

Since there is still some discussion on whether or not Internet addiction is a full fledged addiction that requires formal, medical treatment, there are few numbers to clarify the depth and severity of the issue. Some estimate that about 5 percent to 10 percent of those who use the Internet are addicts. A Stanford Medical School study said that about 14 percent of Americans with Internet access find that it’s hard for them to stop going online for more than a few days.

There are extreme cases of Internet addiction, like the South Korean couple whose infant daughter starved to death because they spent up to 12 hours a day playing an online fantasy game. There are more common cases where relationships fail when one partner opts repeatedly to stay online rather than go to bed or interact with the family. Students who skip classes to play games, adults who miss work or go to work after minimal sleep, and kids who ignore household chores and homework in favor of staying online are even more common.

Getting Help for Internet Addiction

There are no plans for the classification of internet addiction in the new edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) put out by the American Psychiatric Association, but if addiction of any kind of destroying your life, the only way to make a clean break is to get treatment. The Canyon can help you learn more about the nature of addiction and determine whether or not you or your loved one require treatment. Call today for more information.