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.

New research shows that substance abuse is not a weakness of character or a choice but a clinical disease in need of professional treatment.

It’s official: the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has officially recognized that addiction is not solely related to substance misuse and is, in fact, a chronic brain disease.

For decades, addiction specialists and those battling substance abuse have had to fight against the stigma that addiction is some sort of character flaw or personal weakness. But experts have long known that “at its core, addiction isn’t just a social problem or a moral problem or a criminal problem. It’s a brain problem whose behaviors manifest in all these other areas,” ASAM Past President Michael Miller, MD, said in a news release.

“The disease is about brains, not drugs. It’s about underlying neurology, not outward actions,” added Dr. Miller, who oversaw the development of the new addiction definition.

This new definition of addiction was based on findings from brain circuitry studies prompted by more than 80 experts who came together four years ago to begin the process. Previous research has shown that addiction affects neurotransmission in the reward area of the brain, triggers craving of addictive behaviors based on memories of previous experiences, and alters areas that govern impulse control and judgment.

Addiction Definition

Highlights of the new definition include a description of addiction as a primary disease, which means “it’s not the result of other causes such as emotional or psychiatric problems.” ASAM also notes that addiction is a chronic condition, and so should be treated, managed and monitored over a lifetime. The new definition also acknowledges that the disease drives behaviors that others might not understand. It also makes clear that addiction is not a choice, even though choice plays an important role in getting help.

Experts hope this new definition will help decrease the stigma of addiction. By decreasing the stigma, treatment professionals believe it will lessen the barriers to individuals getting the help they need.

Drug Addiction

If you or someone you love is battling drug addiction, 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.

The fact that Nadya Suleman as 14 children and that she was a single mother of six on welfare before she chose to be artificially inseminated with eight more children is not news. The media is agog with the trials and public spectacle that this woman creates with her brood. Her defense of her decision is ongoing despite the fact that the octuplets are now about a year old and continued during a recent appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Suleman wasn’t Oprah’s only guest that day, however. Suze Orman, famed financial adviser, had a couple of bones to pick with the media mom – not the least of which is Suleman’s outstanding $450,000 mortgage for her La Hambra, Calfifornia home.

In her usual frank and straightforward style, Orman asked Suleman: “Why when you couldn’t afford the six kids to begin with, would you even have thought about having one more kid, let alone eight more kids?”

Suleman responded by saying that the babies filled an emotional need despite the financial issue. She knew that finances were a problem but went ahead with her procreation plans, anyway.

Oprah’s response? She mentioned again that she had suggested the last time they met that perhaps she was addicted to having babies.

Suleman nodded in agreement: “I’m looking desperately outside myself and using an inappropriate filler to fill something that I should be filling from within,” she said, referring to her choice to get pregnant.

Choosing an action despite its negative effects on your health, finances and others in your family is certainly a hallmark of addiction. It denotes compulsive and uncontrollable behavior. Certainly she recognized that she was putting her own health in jeopardy and that of her unborn children by having so many at once. She knew that she was limiting the options of her six children by choosing to bring so many more people into the family. Aware of the financial cost of having more children, she went ahead with the endeavor anyway.

Suleman even seems to have a bit of regret about the decision. She said: “I still ask myself why [I had the kids].”

Anyone living with an addiction suffers from the same issues, but on a daily basis. Those who crave their drug of choice feel incapable of stopping themselves from drug seeking and getting high when they feel the need. Even though they are well aware of the damage to their health in the short-term and the risks of health problems in the long-term, the issues with drug overdose, and the cost to their family financially and emotionally, they cannot help themselves. Without drug addiction treatment, few recover and regain control over their own lives.

But is that really a tag that can be placed on Suleman’s choices? Is it possible to be addicted to something like having babies? Or does the very fact of a 40-week gestation period and mandatory recuperation phase preclude calling the action compulsive and addictive? What do you think?

According to CNN, after a year-long review the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told the makers of seven caffeinated alcoholic beverages that their products are considered a “public health concern” and would not be allowed to stay on the shelves without redevelopment. The companies have 15 days to reformulate and risk having their products seized by law.

The problem? The caffeine has the effect of covering up the effects of the alcohol, which leads to people drinking more than usual and/ or attempting to drive while under the influence of illegal amounts of alcohol. Also, the products appeal to a younger market and many underage drinkers are more susceptible to the conflicting effects of the drinks.

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the FDA’s principal deputy commissioner said: “FDA does not find support for the claim that the addition of caffeine to these alcoholic beverages is ‘generally recognized as safe,’ which is the legal standard. To the contrary, there is evidence that the combinations of caffeine and alcohol in these products pose a public health concern.”

Some of the products affected by the new order include Four Loko by Phusion Projects; Joose and Max by United Brands; Core High Gravity HG, Core High Gravity HG Orange and  Lemon Lime Core Spiked by Charge Beverages Corp., and Moonshot by New Century.

One organization, Phusion Projects, has already agreed to comply by removing caffeine and other stimulant-type ingredients like guarana and taurine from their formula.

Phusion released a statement to that effect and followed up by saying: “As we stated yesterday, we have stopped the production and shipment of all our products containing these ingredients. We will continue to work closely and cooperatively with national and state regulators.”

Others aren’t as interested in jumping to comply with the FDA’s new regulations. Rhonda Kallman is the only full-time employee at New Century and her drink, Moonshot, was included in the list. Kallman believes that it is hardly in the same company with drinks like Four Loko, given that hers is a beer with a four percent by volume alcohol content (not six percent to 12 percent like the other drinks) and the same amount of caffeine found in two-thirds of a cup of coffee (as opposed to caffeine amounts that are about five times higher in the other beverages). It’s marketed and sold in only three cities.

Said Kallman: “I don’t know what to say except I’m really shocked about the outcome of the FDA’s inquiry, and I need more answers than what I’ve gotten.”

United Brands responded by saying that while they wouldn’t flout the new FDA regulations, they had no knowledge of even a single incident of harm caused by their product.

While the new regulations are a step toward bringing more awareness to consumers and the industry that creates the drinks about the possible dangers associated with caffeinated alcoholic beverages, it’s not a steadfast law just yet. The FDA can’t ban the products and the review is still happening. But four states, including New York, Utah, Michigan and Oklahoma are already making moves to pull the products from shelves.

Even if you disagree with the regulations, the message is clear: be careful if combining alcohol and caffeine. The caffeine wears off more quickly than the alcohol, and you may be left in an alcoholic blackout that you didn’t want and didn’t plan for.

The biggest difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism is how a person handles the negative consequences of their drinking. A person who abuses alcohol can certainly get themselves into trouble. But they have enough control over their drinking to change their behaviors before things get worse.

An alcoholic may be well aware of their problems. They might have the desire to turn their life around. But they have no control over their drinking. Without alcohol treatment, they will continue to drink heavily. The problems in their life will only get worse. Let’s take a look at a few examples of alcohol abuse and alcoholism to further highlight this difference.

Drunk Driving – Alcohol Abuse

Mark just got his first DUI. He hit the bars one night and got pulled over while driving home. He has never been arrested before, drinks excessively a few times a month, has a good job, and is engaged to be married. After his license was suspended, he went through a brief period of alcohol education. He learned a lot about himself in those classes.

Mark now pays much more attention to each drink. He also makes sure he has a designated driver if he drinks away from home. He rarely drinks to excess anymore. Mark feels more secure about his future after changing his drinking habits.

Drunk Driving – Alcoholism

Steve just got his first DUI. He went out with friends and can’t remember what happened after they went to someone’s house. He was arrested because a cop found him weaving on a residential street.

It’s not the first time he has forgotten most of an evening while drinking heavily. He has shown up drunk at work after drinking late into the night. He’s also gotten into more fights with his wife and has been drinking more in secret. After a brief period of alcohol treatment, he has continued to struggle with his drinking.

Relationship Problems – Alcohol Abuse

Trey is dating his college girlfriend. They often go out together as a couple and with friends. Many of those outings include drinking. Sometimes, Trey has way too much to drink. His girlfriend has explained why she doesn’t like it when he drinks heavily. She has threatened to break up with him if this behavior continues.

Trey really cares for his girlfriend and is considering marrying her. Trey makes a promise to cut back on his drinking and never drink and drive. As he makes these changes, he can tell that his girlfriend is a lot happier in their relationship.

He wants to keep make sure his drinking never harms their relationship again.

Relationship Problems – Alcoholism

Marnie and her husband have been married for ten years. They frequently went out to the bars with friends during the early years of their marriage. When they had their first child, her husband stayed home more and drank less frequently. Marnie still went out or drank alone while the baby slept.

Marnie has been getting defensive and increasingly irritable when her husband talks about her drinking. She drinks every day but thinks her husband is getting on her case too much. She says everything is fine and she just drinks to relax. She loves her family, but her heavy drinking is bringing a lot of tension into her marriage.

Alcohol Treatment – Turning Things Around

Sometimes a person who abuses alcohol can turn things around with a brief period of counseling. Other times they can make change on their own. An active alcoholic rarely turns things around without the help of an alcohol treatment program and significant support. As you can see from the above examples, loss of control and addiction thinking are hallmarks of alcoholism. If you see this developing in your own life, talk to and alcohol treatment counselor for more information today.

Addiction can be hard to watch as it progresses. It’s like a car accident happening in slow motion. You know how it will likely end, you are constantly saddened and horrified as you see it develop, and you feel powerless to make it stop.

Addiction is a horrible form of self-destruction that causes a lot of collateral damage. If you feel like you are watching a disaster unfold with someone you love, keep reading for encouragement and practical ideas.

Keep Yourself Informed

Would you know what to do if your loved one comes to you for help? It’s so important that you keep informed about the type of addiction they have and its potential consequences. If he or she comes to you in a moment of vulnerability, you will have a better understanding of how to help them get sober.

Listen to them and let them know they can trust you to really help them. In that important moment, you’ll be able to speak confidently about taking the first steps toward sobriety.

Keep Communication As Open As Possible

It can be tough to deal with the constant conflict, the high level of emotion, and the unpredictability of a person with an addiction. You don’t need to tolerate verbal abuse or physical danger no matter how badly they need help. But if you are able to safely keep communication open, you may be their lifeline when everything crashes around them.

Decide on a mode of communication that would be most acceptable – meeting in a neutral location, talking on the phone, etc. Make it clear that you may hang up or leave if they become disrespectful or dangerous. But if they are in genuine need of help, you would certainly listen and help them get started with addiction treatment.

Get Support For Yourself

This is so important. An addiction lifestyle is a stressful one, both for the addict and anyone who deals with them on a regular basis. You can’t be much help to them if you are constantly feel depressed, lonely, or isolated.

Alanon is a support group for friends and family members of alcoholics and addicts. This self-support organization has helped countless people deal with the realities of another person’s addiction. Friends and family can learn how to help the person they love, not the addiction.

Witnessing A Loved One’s Addiction Is Tough

Watching someone slowly destroy their life is awful, no doubt about it. While you can’t force someone to help themselves out of an addiction hole, you can certainly be there when they are ready to reach their hand up. With good support, you can learn to cope with the ups and downs of their recovery.

Make sure you don’t just sit helplessly on the sidelines. Get informed, keep communication open if you can, and get support for yourself. You and your loved one can make it through one day at a time.

Drug addiction can create a lot of chaos in your life. When you get sober, it can be tough to look back on your past without wincing. Those arrests, the terrible fights with your family, and all the emotional ups and downs can be hard to face. You know you don’t want to repeat the past. You want to move forward and make a different life for yourself. How do you live with those experiences without letting them get you down?

Develop Good Coping Skills

When you have a challenge in front of you, a little preparation can boost your confidence. When your sobriety is brand new, difficulties in your past can seem overwhelming. As you learn to use healthy coping skills, you’ll feel more confident about facing tough memories or feelings.

You can effectively use your coping methods in two ways. First, you can lower your overall level of stress by eating well, sleeping well, keeping in touch with friends, and so on. Start by building a life with a lot of positivity and good routines. When difficulty comes, you will have a strong foundation underneath you.

Second, you can use some coping skills as a response to a difficult moment. You get a flashback, you run into an old drinking buddy, or you feel a craving. As soon as you realize what’s happening, you can use one or two of your most reliable coping skills to settle yourself again.

Don’t Keep The Truth Hidden Inside

Painful emotions become powerful when you hide them. It may seem like hiding them away would make them feel less intense. But feelings like fear or shame have a way of getting more disruptive when you try to box them up.

When these feelings or memories are triggered, recognize them and let them be there for a moment. Then, use your coping skills to help you change gears. Take a brisk walk, turn on some good music, or talk to a good friend. Do something positive to lift your mood and calm your mind.

Rather than wrestling with your feelings, you let them have a little space. Thankfully, the human mind cannot focus on two things at once. When you pay less attention to your painful feelings, they naturally loose their tight grip.

Every time you experience these feelings in an honest and direct manner, you take away some of the mystery and the sting. If you keep up this approach, time will eventually soften the edges of your past. You may still not like everything in your personal history, but you will be more comfortable living with it.

Live With Your Past In Addiction Recovery

Your past is part of your life, even the parts that include your worst drug addiction struggles. But you can find ways to keep your toughest moments from having power over you. When you can learn to face and live with your addiction experiences, you’ll make important discoveries about staying sober.