Addiction by John Hoffman & Susan Froemke

Author:John Hoffman & Susan Froemke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harmony/Rodale
Published: 2013-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

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OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING TREATMENT

Treatment matching The treatment plan should match the severity of the addicted person’s physical, emotional, and behavioral problems. Factors that should be considered include the patient’s readiness and willingness to change, the potential for relapse, and the stability and safety of the home and living environment. Less intensive treatment (outpatient treatment several times a week, for example) may be effective for an employed individual whose home life is stable and who does not suffer from any co-occurring disorders; but that same treatment may be wholly inadequate and therefore ineffective for an adolescent with a co-occurring mental health problem or a disabled elderly patient addicted to prescription drugs.

Co-occurring disorders When addiction and mental disorders co-exist, they both should be considered primary, and treatment for the co-occurring disorder should take place at the same time. Patients with more severe problems generally have a more difficult time maintaining abstinence. Effective treatment must be tailored to the individual’s specific history and needs. Length of treatment often needs to be extended to increase the individual’s chances of long-term recovery.

People with undiagnosed and untreated mental health problems often turn to alcohol or other drugs as a way of self-medicating anxiety, depression, insecurity, loneliness, or fear. While alcohol and other drugs may temporarily alleviate certain distressing symptoms, they inevitably and invariably make the mental health problem worse in the long run, intensifying the original symptoms and creating serious and potentially life-threatening problems. At the same time, chronic or heavy use of drugs or alcohol affects the brain’s ability to function normally and can cause depression, anxiety, panic attacks, irritability, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts. The general rule is that it is much more difficult to recover from either disorder if they aren’t both treated.

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