Breaking the cycle

Breaking the Cycle: The Relationship Between Alcoholism and Co-Occurring Disorders
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Cory_Kevin]Cory Kevin

Co-occurring mental health disorders are often present in individuals struggling with substance abuse. These must be diagnosed as independent from each other in order to be classified as co-occurring disorders, as opposed to one being the symptom of the other. Either disorder can develop first, though many individuals struggling with a mental health issue turn to substances, such as alcohol, to self-medicate. Dual diagnosis treatment has proven to be the most effective method in treating co-occurring disorders, as it treats the whole individual and assesses the relationship between the disorders while establishing relapse prevention coping skills for all potential triggers. There are many alcohol and drug programs that provide evidence-based dual diagnosis treatment.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately one-third of all individuals who abuse alcohol report simultaneously struggling with mental health disorders. A study published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that between 30 to 40 percent of individuals with alcohol addiction also experience symptoms indicative of clinical depression. The relationship between alcohol abuse and/or alcoholism and depression is complicated in that the conditions exacerbate each other. If an individual dealing with symptoms of depression turns to alcohol to cope, his or her symptoms will worsen once the effects of alcohol, which is a depressant, have worn off. The individual then turns to alcohol again for a temporary alleviation of negative feelings, which devolves into a cycle that is difficult to break.

The same study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that 50 to 60 percent of individuals who struggle with bipolar disorder abuse alcohol or other drugs during manic episodes. Antisocial personality disorder is present in 15 to 20 percent of men with alcoholism and in 10 percent of women. However, generalized anxiety in those with alcohol addiction is not significantly larger than that found in the general population.

The relationship between alcohol use and mental health is complex. The prevalence of alcohol abuse in the United States adds a layer of accessibility and social acceptability to the use of alcohol as a coping tool. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is believed that one in six adults nationwide participates in a drinking binge of approximately eight drinks at least four times each month.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) highly recommends a dual diagnosis approach for the treatment of co-occurring disorders. [http://www.californiadualdiagnosishelpline.com]Official Website

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Breaking-the-Cycle:-The-Relationship-Between-Alcoholism-and-Co-Occurring-Disorders&id=9100882] Breaking the Cycle: The Relationship Between Alcoholism and Co-Occurring Disorders