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Tragedy In Tucson

Mental health disorders and substance use may have played a key role in the Tucson shooting spree, but is the media missing the opportunity to educate about co-occurring disorders?

The tragic shooting spree in Arizona that killed six and wounded 13, including US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, has led to much speculation about the role politics may have played, and whether partisan rhetoric could have incited the killer. Meanwhile, other causes, including mental illness and substance use, have surfaced as friends, family and acquaintances speak out about 22-year-old suspect Jared Lee Loughner.

Did Loughner Have a Mental Illness?

Cameras were still on the scene when former community college classmates began coming forward to explain how Loughner had made them feel uneasy and was volatile in class. There were enough complaints and concern on the part of school officials that Loughner was suspended and warned not to come back without a mental health evaluation. There were also postings attributed to Loughner on websites including MySpace and YouTube that one expert told CNN show "classic signs of psychosis."

Loughner had complained for years about U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords -- the apparent target. The shooting happened at a Tucson Safeway supermarket where Giffords was hosting one of her popular "Congress On the Corner" open houses. Some suspect Loughner targeted the politician because Giffords hadn’t answered a question he asked her back in 2007 to his satisfaction.

Loughner’s family is cooperating with authorities and his father has reportedly said that his son was "out of control" prior to the incident. Online rants attributed to Loughner tackled topics like poor grammar, illiteracy and what he called "mind control."

Forensic psychologist Kathy Seifert told CNN that Loughner’s postings were "absolutely psychotic," adding that he should have been evaluated for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism or other mental illnesses.

Co-occurring Disorders

Often, with undiagnosed mental disorders, individuals may self-medicate in an attempt to lessen their symptoms. When addiction and mental health disorders are combined, they create what experts refer to as co-occurring disorders or a dual diagnosis. While there has been no documented proof that Loughner had a substance abuse problem, he was reportedly taken to a hospital for alcohol poisoning near the end of his junior year of high school, according to recently released Sheriff's Department records. Then in 2007, he was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, but the charge was dismissed after he completed a pretrial diversion program, according to court records. A failed attempt to enlist in the Army in 2008 has been attributed to a positive drug test.

Obviously, many individuals with mental health problems aren’t violent, and it would be an added tragedy if Loughner’s actions were to make the public afraid of harmless individuals who are struggling valiantly against a mental health disorder. The focus now is on justice for the victims and to find positive outcomes from this senseless tragedy. Increased understanding of mental health issues and addiction can be part of that if people will only make the effort.

Co-occurring Disorder Treatment

If you or someone you love is battling an addiction paired with a mental health issue, 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.

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