Health and Fitness : Avoiding substance abuse is one key to mental wellness

Winter is a time when we hear people talking about mental health, depression and seasonal affective disorder. The term “mental wellness” is a positive term that hopefully helps individuals stop and think for a moment about the condition of their mental health. If possible, it is important to think of a person’s mental and physical health before there are mental or physical illnesses present. The link between mental health and substance abuse is clear, but how they are linked is murky. The use of illegal substances and overuse or misuse of legal substances is a risk factor for causing and worsening mental health issues. Substance use disorders are preventable. Some mental health disorders may be as well.

Studies exist showing that substance abuse causes or increases the likelihood of mental health disorders. An example of this is marijuana. Harmful psychological effects of marijuana use include anxiety/panic attacks, depression, paranoia, psychosis, and schizophrenia. In fact,regular daily users of high-potency marijuana (~16% THC), similar to forms increasingly found in the U.S., are 5 times more likely than non-users to have a psychotic disorder. Weekend users are 3 times as likely to suffer a psychotic episode. (2015 The Lancet Psychiatry, Kings College London) It is important to share this information with children so they understand all the reasons why avoiding illicit drugs is so vital. Parents should talk about any family history of mental illness and addiction with their children as there are more and more genetic studies linking drug use and these disorders. Adolescents’ brains are still developing making them more susceptible to drugs causing permanent changes in their brains and more susceptible to addiction.

There are studies documenting that having a mental health disorder can cause substance abuse and substance use disorders. A person with depression or anxiety, may be more likely to use alcohol rather than dealing with the underlying cause of the depression. It is recommended to talk to a professional if you or a loved one is experiencing any symptoms of mental illness. Getting professional help could reduce the chances of developing a substance use disorder. To reduce the chances of developing substance use disorder avoid all illicit drugs. If a person has a family history of either a substance use disorder or a mental health disorder, he or she should be very careful if or when deciding to drink alcohol as well. It is also crucial to talk to a doctor about personal or family history of mental health and addiction before taking any prescribed addictive medicines.

Understanding that mental health and substance use disorders are intrinsically linked is a beginning to understanding the complex treatment needs. One of the disorders may be more visibly obvious to observers, but a thorough evaluation will determine if there are two or more mental health and substance use disorders present. People with dual diagnoses are best served in dual diagnosis treatment program. Long term success requires both disorders be treated. For some patients, especially in rural areas, treatment at two different agencies may be necessary as a dual diagnosis program may not exist. This kind of treatment requires collaboration between all three parties involved in the treatment: the patient, the mental health provider and the substance abuse provider. Dual diagnosis programming can be done inpatient or outpatient depending on client needs and available services. The Area Substance Abuse Council has dual diagnosis services and they collaborate with area mental health providers to ensure patients receive the appropriate treatment necessary for long term recovery. To find help or to seek help for a loved one go to www.asac.us/need-help or call 319-390-4611 and ask to speak with a counselor.

In any location or treatment option, understanding the complex intertwining of mental health and substance use disorders is critical to successful treatment and long term wellbeing for the patient. People should consider this when looking at treatment options for themselves or a loved one. Also, as is the goal of mental wellness, each person might consider what can be done to encourage mental wellness for themselves and for others they care about. Healthy living is always good medicine.