Comments on: Drug Addiction or Mental Illness? http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2008/01/19/drug-addiction-or-mental-illness/ Drug rehab blog from Gatehouse Academy. Gatehouse is a long term drug rehab and alcohol rehab and extended care treatment center for young adults offer the opportunity for young adults age 17-25 to recover from their dependencies. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:09:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Sandy Richardson http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2008/01/19/drug-addiction-or-mental-illness/#comment-296 Sandy Richardson Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:26:25 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/?p=18#comment-296 The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimated that 50-75 percent of patients in substance abuse treatment programs have co-occurring mental illness. Merely detoxing the client and treating the addictive behaviors is simplistic in cases of dual diagnoses because causative factors are being ignored. Many addicts have learned to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol to alleviate symptoms related to other mental health problems. Medication is not required in all cases of co-occurring conditions, but can be a useful adjunct to psychotherapy and a 12 Step approach to addiction. Responsible treatment for substance abuse disorders addresses all facets of the addict's mental, physical, and spiritual health. Reference: SAMHSA http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=hstat5.chapter.74073 The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimated that 50-75 percent of patients in substance abuse treatment programs have co-occurring mental illness. Merely detoxing the client and treating the addictive behaviors is simplistic in cases of dual diagnoses because causative factors are being ignored. Many addicts have learned to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol to alleviate symptoms related to other mental health problems. Medication is not required in all cases of co-occurring conditions, but can be a useful adjunct to psychotherapy and a 12 Step approach to addiction. Responsible treatment for substance abuse disorders addresses all facets of the addict’s mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Reference: SAMHSA http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=hstat5.chapter.74073

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/2008/01/19/drug-addiction-or-mental-illness/#comment-258 Anonymous Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:31:59 +0000 http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/blog/?p=18#comment-258 <p>As the director of Novus Medical Detox, we have many people complete their detox and go on to treatment. Our patients are from all economic levels. While our patients have problems similar to other people in society, they made decisions to use drugs and/or alcohol to deal with these. I think that the dual diagnosis designation is silly and only serves as an excuse to give more drugs not help the person confront life without drugs.. </p> <p> However, the most importatnt thing is for anyone to make the decision that they want to stop using substances.</p> <p>Then if they select a good medical detox and then a rehab that really gets results they will make it.</p> <p>Steve Hayes<br /> http://www.novusdetox.com</p> As the director of Novus Medical Detox, we have many people complete their detox and go on to treatment. Our patients are from all economic levels. While our patients have problems similar to other people in society, they made decisions to use drugs and/or alcohol to deal with these. I think that the dual diagnosis designation is silly and only serves as an excuse to give more drugs not help the person confront life without drugs..

However, the most importatnt thing is for anyone to make the decision that they want to stop using substances.

Then if they select a good medical detox and then a rehab that really gets results they will make it.

Steve Hayes
http://www.novusdetox.com

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