Medical issues, not bad behavior, are more telling when it comes to addressing addiction and getting to the root of the problem.

So often, when reporting on celebs and addiction, the story focuses on bad behavior. Out-of-control starlets partying too hard and saying or doing thing that get caught on camera or result in a ride in the back of a cop car. What is more helpful – and certainly more insightful – is so to focus on the medical conditions and symptoms behind the bigger problem of substance abuse.

When entering a treatment program, the intake counselor gathers this sort of information to begin putting together a medical history that doctors and treatment specialists use to formulate a treatment plan.

As Linsday Lohan prepares for her Playboy spread, it’s easy to get caught up in debating the path she’s taking and whether her current decisions indicate she’s on the path to recovery. Instead, let’s look at the medical issues she has to overcome.

In doing an intake exam, Lohan should certainly mention ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. While she doesn’t actually suffer from this condition, she did receive a diagnosis at one time, probably along with a big bottle of Adderall. Use and abuse of this drug in those who don’t need it can have severe negative effects, including (ironically) hyperactivity and manic behavior. Could ADHD drugs be to blame for some of Lohan’s more outlandish behavior? Could a dependence on these drugs have led her to move on to “bigger and better” drugs?

Lohan has admitted to abusing drugs and alcohol, mainly cocaine. Cocaine provides a burst of energy that is favored by those looking to party into the night, and this would have made it an obvious next step for Lohan. The alcohol then acts as a depressant, allowing the user to come down from the cocaine high. It can also lead to DUI arrests, which Lohan has experienced on more than one occasion.

So we know what she’s been using, but why did Lohan start using in the first place? I very high percentage of people batting addiction have accompanying mental health issues. Often, they start using in an attempt to self-medicate or feel “normal,” even if they haven’t been professionally diagnosed or are aware they have a problem. Lohan was actually professionally diagnosed – with bipolar disorder – but it turned out to be inaccurate. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other mental issues plaguing Lindsay. PTSD, depression, anxiety and a host of other issues could contribute to her decision to turn to drugs. The stress of life in Hollywood would only exacerbate those issues.

It’s that very stress that likely caused Lohan to develop an eating disorder, like countless young celebs and celeb wannabes before her. Bulimia, which consists of bingeing and then purging (or throwing up), leads to malnutrition and causes damage to your teeth and mouth. It’s an extreme disorder than begins with the desire to be thin or attractive, but usually relates more to a desire for control (pros will tell you eating disorders are rarely ever really about food). Lohan has received treatment for her bulimia, and seems to be on top of it, but sometimes dealing with one addiction can lead to the development of another if the underlying emotional issues aren’t fully addressed. That’s why it’s common for food addicts to begin abusing alcohol or turning to shopping or sex as a new outlet. It’s a danger than anyone in recovery knows they need to be aware of.

One of Lohan’s few medical conditions that doesn’t directly relate to substance abuse is asthma. While it’s severe enough that it’s led to hospitalization in the past, it doesn’t affect addiction issues, except that by not taking care of her physical health, it makes her more susceptible to asthma attacks.

Drug Treatment

If you or someone you love needs help with drug treatment, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.

World Health Organization findings prove that mental health disorders are a bigger global problem than cancer or heart disease.

The World Mental Health Survey, published in 2008 and covering 28 countries, estimated that one in three adults suffers from a mental health disorder including bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, anxiety and many others. That’s a staggering number. And a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, pulled together data from surveys to reveal that 6.8 percent of adults had moderate to severe depression.

We’ve been saying it for a while now: mental health issues and addiction often go hand in hand. And even for those who don’t turn to drug addiction or alcohol addiction, the problem is still sizeable. We hear so much about heart disease and cancer, but in 2008 the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that brain disorders accounted for about 13 percent of the global disease burden, a greater percentage than both cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

The new report is an update on a 2005 paper that estimated that 27 percent of the European Union population was affected by mental health disorders each year. The higher figure resulted from the addition of 14 previously excluded disorders, many of which affect children and the elderly, meaning that the frequency of mental health disorders has probably not gone up substantially.

Still, the numbers are so high that we don’t have to see a huge increase to become alarmed. With so many suffering from mental health issues, there is a high incidence of self-medicating, with alcohol, prescription meds or illegal drugs. Individuals don’t get treatment for their symptoms or don’t feel it’s working so they turn to other methods to feel better. Before long, they have an addiction to deal with as well as their underlying mental health issues. In the treatment world, this is called dual diagnosis, and a high percentage of those entering substance abuse treatment arrive with these co-occurring disorders.

For decades, the stigma surrounding mental health disorders has kept some from seeking treatment and pushed others to keep their treatment secret. That shame can also contribute to addiction. Fortunately, in recent years the stigma has lessened and increasing education will continue to help sufferers feel like they don’t need to hide their diagnosis.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

If you or someone you love is in need of treatment for a co-occurring disorder or other help, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, 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.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment provides those who are living with a drug addiction and a psychological disorder with the care that they need to work through both issues during the same treatment program. It’s one of the benefits that Bai Ling, an actress currently on Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab on VH1, is experiencing – kind of. In fact, it’s something that has been causing her issues, perhaps because she doesn’t understand the goal of drug addiction treatment in relation to her psychological issues.

Bai Ling and Psychiatric Medications During Drug Rehab

It’s clear from Bai Ling’s behavior when she refuses to take her pills that she needs that medication badly. It’s also clear that she is physically incapable of focusing on groups and treatments for drug addiction when she is off her meds. She is living with a psychological disorder, as yet unidentified on the show, in addition to alcoholism and it is obvious that she requires treatment for both issues at the same time in order to make any real progress on either front. The first step is to stay on the meds that she is currently prescribed, adjusting the medication and dosage according to her development in treatment. While Dr. Drew and other counselors can only encourage her to take her meds, they can’t force her, but if she continues to choose not to take her medication and can’t stay on track while continuing to distract from treatment, stopping others from getting the help they need, it may be necessary for her to leave rehab.

“I Want to Get Off All Drugs. That’s Why I’m Here.”

It’s a common thought among those who are struggling with dual diagnoses – unfortunately, it’s not an effective way to handle treatment when psychological illness like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other disorders are an issue. Part of the stabilization process that happens during drug detox means getting the medication right to effectively treat any psychological disorders. It will be practically impossible to remain clean and sober without treating mental health at the same time since it is often the case that patients self-medicate the symptoms associated with their disorder by abusing illicit drugs and alcohol.

Medications taken to mitigate the effects of a psychological disorder are not the same as addictive medications or drugs. It’s important to utilize medication effectively and stabilize emotional issues, hallucinations, paranoia, et cetera, during the early part of treatment, begin the process of dealing with emotional issues and trauma and learn new and healthy coping mechanisms – then, if you feel and your doctor feel that it’s appropriate, consider lowering your medication dose or changing medications.

At The Canyon, we offer Dual Diagnosis Rehab to help those who are living with both drug addiction and a psychological disorder. Call now to find out more specifics about our program.

Gambling addiction is a medical and psychological issue, just like drug addiction. While half of those seeking treatment for drug addiction are struggling with a co-occurring psychological disorder like depression or anxiety, it is estimated that one in three people in drug rehab also have a gambling problem. It can be complicated to extricate a gambling disorder from a drug addiction disorder during treatment, but because one issue can trigger the other, it becomes important to address both problems at the same time during addiction treatment.

Problem Gambling and Gambling Addiction After Drug Rehab

Many people think that they can continue to gamble even after they go through drug addiction treatment and get clean and sober. Unfortunately, for most, gambling triggers drug addiction temptations. Free drinks at a casino are hard to pass up and the urge to take other stimulant drugs like crystal meth or cocaine in order to stay awake and continue gambling is extremely hard to resist. It’s almost impossible for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics to continue to gamble if they used to gamble during their addiction – it’s akin to hanging out at bars and clubs every night of the week while trying not to drink or get loaded. It just doesn’t work for very long.

Treating Gambling Problems and Addictions During Drug Addiction Treatment

Though many recovering addicts play cards before AA or NA meetings or even to entertain themselves during rehab, if the addict is one of the 33 percent with a co-occurring gambling disorder then this is no longer fun and games. It can trigger the pleasure pathway and adrenaline in much the same way that drugs and alcohol do, and it quickly becomes impossible to stop. With all the same effects on life that drug addiction brings – financial problems, relationship issues, difficulties at work, social problems – it requires the same kind of treatment and this is most effective when it happens in conjunction with drug addiction treatment.

The key is therapy and psychological treatment. What purpose does gambling serve? Escape? Soothing? Why do you feel that you need assistance in these areas? It’s often unresolved trauma and other psychological issues that are dealt with through drugs and gambling. Dealing with those issues during treatment can alleviate the need to get high or gamble.

Additionally, experiential therapy explores the emotions underlying the traumatic events and experiences while personal therapy also provides the guidance necessary to learn better coping mechanisms that don’t include gambling, drugs, alcohol and other dysfunctional and damaging choices.

Contact us today at the Canyon to learn more about our drug rehab programs and how we can help you heal from dual diagnoses like addiction and gambling.

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.

Sometimes you live with something for so long, it becomes part of the landscape. You don’t see the details anymore, you learn to live with the irritating problems and pick up the slack when things fall apart. Do you know if you are living with someone gripped with an addiction? Read this post to learn about crucial red flags that signal a drug addiction and what you can do if you see them.

Here’s a quick list of what you might notice if you are living with a drug addict or alcoholic.

- Drinking heavily on a regular basis
- Secretiveness and excuses about drinking or drug use
- Missing money that can’t be accounted for
- Prescription pain medication being taken more frequently or in larger quantities than prescribed
- Drinking or drug use (even pain medication) to deal with stress
- Increased problems at work
- Lots of time being spent drinking or using drugs and getting the alcohol or drugs
- Blackouts
- Extreme emotions
- These problems are starting to affect family life, social life, work situation
- Legal problems resulting from drugs or alcohol
- They protect their drug or alcohol use above other priorities
- They say they will stop or slow down their use, but they can’t seem to

What Next If You See Drug Addiction

When you realize that you are living with an addicted person, you have a choice to make. You can either allow things to continue as they are or you take a courageous step to make a change. If you decide to do nothing, you may believe that person can and will eventually snap out of it on their own. You may be playing a dangerous waiting game if you make this choice. Drunk driving, being high while using electricity or fire, unexpected suicide attempt – these ad other devastating things could happen when a person has an untreated addiction.

Help Your Loved One Start Drug Rehab

If you decide to take action, first call a professional for guidance. You may need some support to start the conversation with your loved one, or you may want more information about drug detox and drug treatment centers in your area. Even if your loved one doesn’t seem open to starting drug or alcohol rehab, a drug rehab professional can steer you towards support groups for yourself and other strategies to help your loved one open themselves to treatment. Don’t let something destructive like drug addiction become part of your background landscape. Bring it out into the light, out in front of you. Deal with the truth and turn your family life in a different direction.

photo credit: nzgabriel