Natalie struggled with methamphetamine use disorder for over nine years.
She was one of the lucky few to receive treatment to deal with her addiction, but found the help incomplete. She eventually started taking meth again.
Ultimately, Natalie was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders among young people. She started her ADHD treatment in addition to treatment for her methamphetamine addiction and achieved long-term recovery.
“The addition of Adderall really changed my life,” she said. I was very disappointed that so many people were making their living while I was struggling with my job, and in part, that led to my relapse.”
Recovery from drug addiction is notoriously difficult. Setbacks are common. An important factor is often overlooked. It’s a concurrent mental health issue. Treating psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and ADHD with medications and other therapeutic modalities is a major threat to the addictions and overdoses that currently kill more than 100,000 people a year. critical to addressing the crisis.
Substance use disorders are often accompanied by other mental illnesses. Half of people with substance use disorders have had another mental illness at some point and vice versa.
For many people, drug and alcohol problems begin with self-medication. Using substances to deal with temporary stress, or to manage symptoms of chronic mental health problems, you may not even be aware you have. Substance use, especially alcohol, is a socially accepted way of dealing with negative emotions.
Research shows that alcohol use increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. stressed parentsResearch also links the problem of alcohol use in college students to social anxiety self-treatment. Similarly, people with untreated depression may find that opioids and stimulants temporarily elevate their mood and use them for that purpose.
Fragmented and difficult-to-access mental health care means that these conditions and addictions often go untreated. It’s easier and more likely to be comorbid with addiction and other mental illnesses.
But using substances to treat mental illness can start a difficult cycle. Using substances to manage mental illness can lead to addiction and exacerbate the original mental illness. Regular use of drugs or alcohol helps the brain adapt to the substance. This is known as addiction. In effect, the brain suppresses the neurotransmitter system that the drug acts on. People who try to relieve their anxiety through substance use will most likely experience more severe anxiety. Because their brains are now dependent on drugs for relief.
Racism and other forms of discrimination, isolation, childhood trauma, poverty, and lack of access to education and health care can all contribute to an increased risk of developing mental illness and substance use disorders. . The stigma attached to both substance use disorders and mental illness exacerbates these factors, making people with mental illness and addiction more isolated, vulnerable, and less likely to seek treatment.
The entanglement of mental illness and substance use disorders requires urgent action. Efforts to reverse the addiction and overdose crises need to be multifaceted with regard to mental illness. We have powerful and proven treatment tools for addiction. opioid use disorderOverdose deaths can be stopped when harm mitigation strategies are implemented. However, expanded screening and care for psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and PTSD need to be a factor in successfully addressing the current addiction and overdose crisis.
Prevention is possible through investment. Because substance use disorders and other mental illnesses share common risks and protective factors, opportunities to reduce risk can begin early in life. Interventions that begin before birth and continue through puberty and adolescence can help avoid a range of adverse consequences later in life. moreover, a lot of research The return on investment for prevention shows that communities can not only save lives by investing in prevention programs, but they can also save money.
Screening is equally important. Earlier this year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that primary care physicians screen all patients. adult When puberty Patients with depression, given the low cost and potential benefits. Screening for mental health conditions should be part of standard practice, along with screening for substance use and substance use disorders, to individualize interventions to treat patients’ unique needs and increase their chances of recovery. must be.
Dr. Nora Volkow is Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDA is the world’s largest funder of research into the health aspects of drug use and addiction.
