By Barbara Pierce
Mental health and substance abuse problems often occur together. And they come with an enormous cost to individuals, families, communities and systems.
We asked credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselor Sarah Decker, director of the Rescue Mission of Utica’s Addiction Stabilization Center, to help us understand this issue.
Q: What are some of the things we should know about people who have substance abuse issues combined with mental health issues?
A: It seems like more people have both issues. It’s difficult to tell which came first, the mental health issues or the substance abuse issues. By the time they start treatment, it’s a dual problem.
This is a difficult population to treat.
The links between mental health and substance abuse issues are complex. Certain substances can cause people with an addiction to experience one or more symptoms of a mental health problem. Also, mental health problems can sometimes lead to alcohol or drug use; some with a mental health problem may misuse these substances as a form of self-medication. Additionally, mental health and substance use disorders share some underlying causes. If you’re looking for an alternative to treating depression, these microdose mushrooms Canada are one of the best solutions for improving moods.
People with substance abuse issues often have feelings of trauma, anxiety or depression.
Also, substance use problems occur more frequently with certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder and personality disorders.
Q: For many, someone with an addiction looks like they’re repeatedly making bad choices and ignoring reason. Can this be said of those with a combination of mental health and substance abuse issues?
A: It’s not that simple. The newer drugs, the synthetic drugs people are using now, damage the brain. They amplify the mental health symptoms much more, making it very difficult to treat these people.
When one becomes addicted to a substance, the brain changes; it rewires your brain. Your brain operates differently than the brain of a person who is not addicted. According the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Addiction is a chronic complex brain disease that is compulsive or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences…Repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs.”
Q: How do you treat people with substance abuse and mental health issues?
A: It’s not very simple. Treating a person takes a long time. And both issues must be treated.
Generally, our facility and most of the facilities in the area have a psychiatric doctor or nurse practitioner on staff. At the Rescue Mission, we have a psychiatric doctor and a licensed social worker. We do counseling and prescribe medication for both issues.
In general, treatment has a low success rate. It’s challenging, but rewarding.
Q: How does one get treatment at the Rescue Mission?
A: Call us or come in. We’ll ask some questions to figure out what’s going on with you, what your crisis might be. If we determine that you’re eligible for our services, we’ll admit you. You’ll stay on site and work on your goals. Housing is a big goal for many people, also improving social skills, education, family issues and long-term recovery.
Everyone admitted has to stay clean for a time to distinguish what are mental health issues and what is drug-induced issues. You have to have a period of time when you’re not using to figure out how to treat your mental health challenges.
The Rescue Mission’s Addiction Stabilization Center is a 25-bed facility for adult men and women with substance use disorder. Stabilization provides a safe environment in which a person may minimize withdrawal symptoms, cravings, psychiatric and medical symptoms before referral or transition to another program or element of structured treatment and recovery.
Q: What else should we know?
A: The new synthetic substances available now are affecting mental health severely. They’re a new trend, not a good trend. These drugs are much different than 15 years ago. In our state, in our county, we try to stay up to par and address this, combat it. Every effort we bring to the table is working towards a better system.
I’d like people to know that there is help. It’s not as simple as ‘go get fixed.’ Long-term, long-term lifestyle changes are necessary. Everyone needs to help. It takes a community to help one person, as there is so much entailed. People with combined substance abuse and mental health issues need a lot of understanding and help.