Former NHL Predator Wade Belak is the latest in a series of young hockey players who have died recently. Is there a connection to depression, alcohol or prescription meds?

What is behind the death of former Predator Wade Belak, an enforcer who retired in March, ending a career that included five different NHL teams? Just 35 years old, he was found dead this week in Toronto.

Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella said officers found a man dead when they were called to a hotel and condo complex in the early afternoon. No foul play is suspected and an investigation is ongoing.

While any unexplained death of an athlete still in their prime is disturbing, the fact that Belak is the third NHL enforcer found dead since May is especially alarming.

Winnipeg’s Rick Rypien, only 27, was found dead in August 2011 at his home in Alberta. A police official termed it a “sudden and non-suspicious’’ death, but ESPN reports that the implication was that Rypien’s mental health issues were directly linked to his untimely death. Teammates and coaches were surprised, as it seemed Rypien had turned a corner in recent months after twice leaving the Canucks during the season for personal reasons. Meanwhile, former Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard, 28, died in May from what was ruled an accidental mix of alcohol and the prescription painkiller oxycodone.

After the first two deaths, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he expected the NHL to review its substance abuse and behavioral health program.

“It’s not only about the deaths, it’s the deaths that surround similar type players,’’ former Flames general manager Craig Button told The Canadian Press. “It’s not just getting hit in the head, it’s everything that goes with that role. I think that people are paying very, very serious attention to concussions.’’

Pro athletes need to be particularly vigilant when it comes to injuries and the use of prescription drugs and alcohol to dull chronic pain. An injury on the field, court or rink can easily turn into a substance abuse problem. Would OxyContin rehab have helped Boogaard? Would treatment for co-occurring disorders have saved Rypien? We’ll never know.

While retired from the game, Belak was set to return to the rink as a sideline reporter on Nashville television broadcasts this season.

Drug Rehab

If you or someone you love is in need of drug treatment or help for a mental health issue and 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.

Researchers, thankfully, are paying more and more attention to dual diagnosis, or those who suffer from co-occurring disorders like drug addiction and PTSD. Often, one issue influences and worsens the other in a vicious cycle, and it’s a huge step in the development of treatment that medical facilities like The Canyon are learning the links between psychological disorders and addiction and treating them simultaneously.

PTSD and Drug Addiction

It is estimated that about 33 percent to 50 percent of those who seek treatment for drug addiction and abuse are also suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. In fact, more often than not, those who suffer from both PTSD and addiction are addicted to an illegal substance as opposed to alcohol. Additionally, those who suffer from both were more likely to have a higher level of addiction and a more serious physical issue with the disease than those who suffered from addiction but not PTSD.

What the Experts Say About PTSD and Drug Addiction

Martin Driessen is a professor of psychiatry at Ev. Hospital Bielefeld in Germany, and a corresponding author for a recent study on the subject of PTSD and drug addiction. He says:

“We already knew that there is a quite relevant association between PTSD and SUDs. More specifically, PTSD is a risk factor for the development of an SUD, particularly a drug dependence. However, it was unclear whether this is true for both abusers and dependent subjects, or only one of these groups, which is why we studied clearly dependent subjects.”

Andreas Heinz, the director and chair of the department of psychiatry at Charité — University Medical Center Berlin added:

“Drug dependence has frequently been observed in war veterans who also suffer from PTSD. Both men and women often increase drug abuse and develop dependence following war and other trauma.”

What It Means for Those Who Suffer From PTSD and Drug Addiction

Unfortunately, because drug addiction issues are usually far worse for those who suffer from PTSD than those who do not, the dual issues generally manifest in even more problems with family and friends, lost careers and more severe psychological issues exacerbated by drug use. Heinz says:

“The subjects suffering from PTSD had higher hospitalization rates, shorter periods of abstinence, and higher drug craving. However, the study did not show whether PTSD was a cause or consequence of drug dependence in individual subjects.”

An interesting question that is always at play when you suffer from two co-occurring disorders: did the PTSD instigate drug addiction or did drug addiction inflame the PTSD? What we do know for sure is that one always makes the other worse and that to effectively treat either disorder, you must treat both simultaneously.

Women, PTSD and Drug Addiction

The issues for women in this area of dual diagnosis is significant, according to Heinz. She says:

“Women in this study showed higher PTSD rates, which is in accordance with the literature. Women also more often show clinical depression, which often precedes alcohol dependence, while in men, depression seems to follow alcohol dependence in most cases. Further research on psychotrauma and its sequelae such as PTSD, anxiety and depression may point to gender differences in the course and consequences of drug and alcohol addiction.”

If you or someone you love is suffering from PTSD and drug addiction, finding help sooner rather than later can help mitigate the effects of the disorders. If you would like more information about our dual diagnosis program, contact us at The Canyon.

Adolescent Drug Use Linked to Insomnia

A study just released in the October issue of Sleep journal has discovered a definite link between chronic sleeplessness in teenagers and mental illness. Author Brandy M. Roane, MS, elaborates, “The current study suggests adolescents with insomnia are more prone to developing mental disorders, specifically depression. Previous research in adults has found similar results to this study.”

Sleep Study Links Insomnia with Mental Illness and Drug Abuse

Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years at the beginning of the study were re-evaluated after six or seven years – a total of 3,582 young people in all, of which, 9.4 percent reported having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep nearly every night.

Of the 336 individuals with sleep difficulties, rates of depression were 2.3 times more prevalent in adulthood compared to those who did not report symptoms of insomnia. Drug and alcohol use as well as thoughts and attempts at suicide were also higher among the group suffering from insomnia.

Teenager Sleeplessness a Risk Factor for Depression and Mental Illness

In short, the findings of the study point to a greater risk of teenage insomniacs developing mental health issues and increased severity of the symptoms to boot. These conclusions suggest that insomnia could be a risk factor for mental illness and drug addiction – valuable information for parents, teachers, coaches, pastors, and mentors who play the major roles of keeping teens clear of danger.

There are many theories of why sleep is necessary for healthy functioning, and what exactly happens while our bodies rest. Studies abound on the effects of sleep related to memory, cognitive ability, motor function and control, wound healing, growth, even hormone production. While no one fully understands what happens inside our bodies while we sleep, one thing we do know for certain is that extensively long periods without sleep can kill you.

Tell Us: What do you think is the link between restful sleep and sound mental health? Is it dreams? Rapid eye movement? The difference between daylight and darkness?

photo credit: Oslo In The Summertime

It’s already difficult to know just how common dual diagnosis issues are in the United States. There have not been many studies done to find out. What’s even more hidden is the true number of people with multiple co-occurring disorders – one or more mental disorders and one or more addictions at once.

Dual Diagnosis Includes Multiple Co-Occurring Disorders

It’s already difficult to know just how common dual diagnosis issues are in the United States. There have not been many studies done to find out. What’s even more hidden is the true number of people with multiple co-occurring diagnoses, one or more mental disorders and one or more addictions at once.

While several reliable resources acknowledge that some people with dual disorders actually have multiple disorders, it’s difficult to really know the true numbers. Suffice to say that mental health professionals may need to consider co-occurring disorders more of the norm than the exception.

Prevalence of Multiple Co-Occurring Disorders

It isn’t really accurate to use the word “dual” because that implies the existance of just two co-occurring disorders. In fact, some people have three or more diagnosable mental or addiction disorders going on at the same time. It is difficult to get statistics on how many people are affected by more than two disorders. Few studies have been done on dual diagnosis prevalence at this point. Hopefully, the current shift in awareness and treatment of dual diagnosis disorders will prompt the push for more studies. Professionals need to get a good handle on the problem to continue improving treatment options, treatment availability, and awareness.

Proper Assessment for Multiple Co-Occurring Disorders

For anyone needing help with a mental illness or addiction, proper assessment and diagnosis is absolutely essential. The Canyon has participated in dual diagnosis research and found that although 14 million people in the United States have co-occurring disorders, only 19% actually get treatment. Since it’s clear that many more people have co-occurring disorders than was once thought, accurate diagnosis is the first step to getting the right treatment. Certainly there need not be over-diagnosis hysteria, seeing anyone and everyone as possibly having dual and multiple disorders. However, the current pattern is under-diagnosis.

The recent trend of greater awareness among the public and professionals is heartening. Perhaps the entire treatment success rate for mental health and addiction services has been skewed for years because one or more disorders were either undiagnosed or not properly treated in the first place. It all boils down to people getting the treatment that fits their needs. The Canyon’s treatment process includes careful and thorough dual diagnosis assessment. The staff is committed to understanding the whole picture and treating the whole person.

Your Experience

Have you ever had more than one addiction and realized you also had other problems like wild mood swings, bouts with depression, or a serious anger problem (possibly depression in disguise)? Or, have you had more than one mental illness (bipolar and anxiety, schizophrenia and depression, etc) and also developed an addiction? Assessment and study of multiple mental illness and addiction disorders is a subject that needs much light shed on it. The experiences you share are very valuable to us and everyone else going through the struggle.

photo credit: Daquella manera

Change is society can be slow, especially for something that has so many unknowns. The mainstream practice for dual diagnosis treatment used to be treat the addiction then treat the mental disorder. Now researchers and professional are realizing that there is a much better way – dual diagnosis treatment that helps both problems at once.

Which Came First Mental Illness or Addiction

Occasionally the dual diagnosis “chicken and the egg” question arises. Which came first for this person – the mental illness or the addiction? And for that matter, which one usually comes first in the dual diagnosis population? Sometimes it turns out you are asking the wrong question from the beginning.

Researchers have found that in most cases, the mental illness has developed before the addiction. The debate has gone on for years, but this focus has taken the mental health and addiction community off track. The point is really this – worrying which came first masks the fact that the interaction of the diagnoses is what really matters. The person with these problems is only concerned that their life is going downhill and they need the best treatment the mental health and addiction community can offer.

Separation of Mental Illness and Addiction in Treatment

Until recently, most professionals kept addiction and mental health treatment fairly separated. The conventional wisdom had been to get the person stable in their sobriety before really addressing any mental health diagnoses. It was thought that you couldn’t effectively treat the mental illness if the addiction was still “getting in the way,” so to speak. However, this process has misinterpreted the basic way co-occurring disorders work. Again, it is the interaction that dual diagnosis recovery needs to focus on.

When one diagnosis gets the focus and the other is left aside, the person isn’t getting the whole problem addressed. It’s like finding two different infections on a person’s two hands, but waiting until the left hand gets better before treating the right one. In the meantime, the infection in the right hand just continues to get worse!

Misdiagnosis and Under-Diagnosis of Co-Occurring Disorders

Also, it’s important that genuine dual disorders are not seen as one major disorder with a small side-problem – like a depressed person what has a few too many drinks after work (alcoholic), or a drug addict with an occasional anger and aggression problem (probably some form of depression in disguise).

It is certainly possible for a major disorder to occur with some minor disturbances on the side, it is absolutely essential that a well-trained professional make sure significant problems aren’t getting the brush-off. The Canyon takes accurate dual diagnosis assessment quite seriously. The staff is highly trained in the complexities of dual diagnosis treatment and assessment.

Your Experience

Have you ever been treated for your dual diagnoses separately? What was your experience like? How do you think that affected your overall recovery? We here at the Canyon very much appreciate you sharing your stories and with us. It helps us to make your dual diagnosis treatment experience the best possible.

The primary goal of any drug treatment facility, no matter what their approach, is to help you find a way to live that allows you to be functional: go to work, develop healthy friendships and relationships, discover your dreams and re-commit to family. Unfortunately, most drug addiction treatment centers treat just that: addiction. They don’t account for the underlying causes that may have instigated the initial drug abuse or perpetuated that abuse until it turned into addiction. Without addressing both addiction and its cause simultaneously, you significantly reduce your chances of success in treatment.

Psychological Disorders and Their Relation to Drug Addiction

When you suffer from a psychological disorder, whether it’s as simple as depression or as complex as schizophrenia, your chances of turning to drugs in an attempt to medicate yourself increase exponentially. If you find something that works for you once, be it pills, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, heroin or methamphetamine, chances are you’ll use again. Regular use of a drug quickly turns into physical dependence upon it, a state of being that means you experience withdrawal symptoms when you go without the drug for too long. This dependence is one of the hallmarks of addiction. Unfortunately, if you’re not already dealing with a psychological disorder, many drugs will create one for you. For those who started using based on a mental condition, it won’t take long until drug addiction only makes it worse, which makes you think more drugs are needed to feel better, which in turn makes the psychological condition even worse….And on and on and on.

Trying to Ignore Psychological Disorders To Treat Drug Addiction

Most therapists will tell you that they can’t help you until you get your drug addiction under control. The problem with that is that if your psychological disorder is the reason why you’re using then you’re not going to get your drug addiction control without addressing this originating cause. It sounds like common sense, but unfortunately, in many treatment facilities, they just don’t have the resources to provide the comprehensive treatment you need. It’s called co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis and the only way to really begin healing is to enter a treatment program that is equipped to give you the individualized attention and multi-faceted treatment you need.

The Canyon Treats Drug Addiction and Psychological Disorders

The Healing Life program at The Canyon is a unique drug addiction treatment program designed for those who suffer from mental issues in addition to addiction. Located in Peace Park in the Santa Monica Mountains outside of Malibu, California, you couldn’t ask for a more beautiful start for your new life in sobriety.

Bookmark this blog as we keep you updated on the latest treatment approaches in dual diagnosis treatment, therapeutic options we provide, news in addiction treatment and trends as well as the personal stories of those who are struggling to find their foundation in recovery. Welcome to The Canyon!

Contrary to popular belief, effective drug addiction treatment is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. It’s true that drug addiction is a medical disease affecting the brain, however, the extent to which it affects the brain and the spiritual and emotional effects vary widely and each person who suffers from addiction issues likely also suffers from psychological disorders, too. Also medical in nature, the range and severity of psychological issues only makes it more difficult to find a drug treatment center that is appropriate.

How do you know what to look for in a drug treatment center and, more importantly, how do you prepare to wade through the mountains of available options?

Be Objective

The best person to tell you what you need is you. Were you depressed or suffering from a mental disorder like manic depression or schizophrenia before you began using drugs? Have you been using for years and at high doses, mixing drugs or maintaining an expensive habit or have you been experimenting for a few months?

Only you know whether you need treatment for the co-occurring disorders of drug addiction and psychological disorders. Only you know if you need an intense inpatient treatment or a more open day treatment option. If you’re going to do it, do it right. Be honest with yourself and decide what you need before you look any further.

Be Thorough

Once you start your search for the right drug treatment center, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by your options right out of the box. Don’t falter. Your life depends on your ability to see the process through. If you need help, ask for it: loved ones, friends, doctors, even insurance agents can help you see your situation more clearly if you’re having trouble being objective. If you’re searching out the best option for someone you love, the addict or alcoholic in your life is most likely in denial and will only get better if you do as much as you can to show them the right way to go.

Call The Canyon

Whether or not you decide to come stay with us, you owe it to yourself to see what a premiere dual diagnosis drug addiction treatment center like The Canyon can be: a sprawling estate in the Santa Monica Mountains, luxury accommodations and a customizable treatment program grounded in traditional therapeutic concepts and augmented by cutting edge alternative therapies. If you’re ready to get better and build a whole new life for yourself, you need a new kind of treatment.

What do you think is lacking in drug addiction treatment centers today?