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Click here to read "Addressing the Complexities of Chronic Pain," by Dr. James Gagne, an internist at The Canyon. The article was published in Marin Medicine Magazine. (This link is provided solely for educational purposes.)

 

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The Need for Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Drug Addiction and Depression

There are a number of reasons why depression sets in. It may be an acute condition brought on by a specific event; this is a kind of depression that we all go through at one time or another. But clinical depression has its roots in biological and/or psychological makeup as well as trauma or stress events in life.

Drug addiction, too, comes from genetics and predisposition and can be triggered by stressful events that occur every day. When you suffer from both drug addiction and depression, each disorder can exacerbate the effect and seriousness of the other. Getting effective treatment means that you must find a dual diagnosis facility like The Canyon to medically treat both your drug addiction and depression at the same time.

Drug Addiction and Depression: Biology

You're biological makeup has an incredible amount to do with whether or not you will develop an addiction to drugs as well as the severity of your depression after stressful events. How easily you can pull out of depression is genetically determined as is how long it will take you and how much experimentation with drugs your body can withstand before developing an addiction.

Essentially, there is an imbalance of chemicals in your brain that determines your emotions and the depth of your depression when a typically upsetting experience occurs. This imbalance often cannot correct itself naturally if there is not enough of a certain chemical in your brain or if release is inhibited for any reason. Therefore, those who are depressed often find relief and an uptake in serotonin and other "happy" chemicals when they use certain drugs. Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for addiction to develop, which quickly compounds the problem of depression when the "happy" chemicals wear off.

Drug Addiction and Depression: Health and Body

If you have physical or chronic medical conditions, your risk for depression and the development of addiction after drug use increases significantly. The statistics say, for example, that if you have a heart attack, your risk of developing depression afterward increases by 65 percent. Other medical conditions like cancer or heart disease also mean an increased risk of depression. And of course, with medical conditions come pain prescriptions and regular use of any painkiller quickly leads to drug addiction.

Other physical characteristics like gender also affect whether or not you will develop depression. Women are statistically more likely to become depressed than men, by about 50 percent. But both men and women medicate their feelings with drugs and alcohol and though women have been more likely to abuse alcohol and pills while men opted for "harder" drugs, the gap between genders across all drugs of abuse are narrowing.

Drug Addiction and Depression: A Vicious Cycle

Unfortunately, some medications can cause depression and depression can increase the urge to use alcohol and certain drugs of addiction. Unfortunately, prescription painkillers and alcohol only serve to deepen depression in the long run. It's a vicious cycle that only dual diagnosis treatment can cure.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Depression and Drug Addiction at The Canyon

At The Canyon, we provide an unparalleled dual diagnosis treatment for the co-occurring disorders of depression and drug addiction. If you have any questions about the nature of our unique treatment, contact The Canyon today at .

Call 877.714.1319
If The Canyon isn't right for you, we'll find the place that is.

Articles on Dual Diagnosis