CO-Occurring Disorders

 

What is a co-occurring disorder?

 

A person who has both an alcohol or drug addiction and an emotional / psychological diagnosis is said to have a co-occurring disorder.  To recover fully, the person needs treatment for both problems.

 

How common is a co-occurring disorder?

Co-occurring disorders are more common than you might imagine.  According to a report published by the Journal of the American Medical Association:

 

   * 37% of alcohol abusers and 53% of drug abusers also have at least one serious           mental illness. 

   * Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29% either abuse alcohol or drugs.

 

What kind of mental or emotional problems are seen in people with a co-occurring disorder?

  

   * Depressive disorders, such as clinical depression and bipolar disorder

   * Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive

      disorder, phobias and post traumatic stress (PTSD)

   * Other psychiatric disorders such as attention deficit disorder (ADD, ADHD).

 

Substance abuse can induce anxiety and depression. 

Sometimes the use of alcohol and drugs copntributes to symptoms of severe anxiety and depression. Alcohol is a depressant drug and contributes to anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.  While cocaine temporarily increases pleasure, it can create paranoia and panic attacks along with a condition called anhodenia, an inability to experience pleasure. Methamphetamine users often experience paranoid delusions similiar to schitzophrenia. This can happen in more than one way:  

*  Increased vulnerabilty to mental illness

*  Direct cause - drugs can cause a temporary psychosis, which under some conditions        can be permanent

 

Factors:  * Heredity  *  Traumatic experiences  * The combination of chemical dependency and mental illness is harder to treat, and the chance of relapse into both types of problems is greater.   Lasting Recovery treats clients with a co-occurring disorder.

 

 

Some insurance plans accepted.
Call to see if yours will cover the cost of your treatment.

California Certified Alcohol and Drug Program #370101AP

 

Call for help (858) 453-4315

6046 Cornerstone Court W. #113

San Diego, CA  92121