Those of us who work in the field of addiction, or suffer from addiction ourselves, know the stigma that surrounds this illness.
There's another disorder so laden with stigma that treatment is often roadblocked: mental illness. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in 5 Americans (43.8 million) experiences mental illness, and nearly 1 in 25 (10 million) adults in America live with a serious mental illness that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. As with addiction, the barrier of shame, fear and silence prevent far too many people from seeking help.
And often, addiction and mental illness are connected. This only compounds the stigma that makes treatment for both disorders difficult to access.
(Infographic source, above: Dartmouth-Hitchcock)
The presence of both a mental health and substance use disorder is called a co-occurring disorder, which has replaced the older terms dual diagnosis and dual disorder. Research has shown a clear link between mental illness and substance use; NAMI states that among the 20.2 million adults in the U.S. who experience a substance use disorder in a given year, 50.5%—10.2 million adults—had a co-occurring mental illness.
A study last year by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the University of Michigan, published in Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, showed that more than half of all opioids are distributed to adults with mental illness. Nearly 19% of the estimated 38.6 million people with the two most common mental health disorders - anxiety and depression - received at least two prescriptions for opioids during a year, with more than half of all opioid prescriptions going to individuals with these disorders. The researchers concluded that adults with mental health disorders are much more likely to use prescription opioids than people without mental health disorders — 18.7 percent vs. 5 percent.
Other data from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that people who have at any point been diagnosed with a mental health disorder are responsible for 69% of all alcohol consumption and 84% of all cocaine consumption. According to SAMHSA's 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, co-occurring disorders are highest among adults ages 26 to 49; for adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders, rates were highest among those ages 18 to 25.
Untangling co-occurring disorders
Why is addiction so often linked with mental illness? Mental health and substance use disorders both occur because of environmental and biological factors. Unfortunately, the two issues can easily become entwined and exacerbate each disorder. People often seek relief from mental illness symptoms through drugs and alcohol, which can then compound or create mental health disorders, such as when a drug induces paranoia, depression, or panic disorder. There is great variability and severity amongst co-occurring disorders, and when the disorders are combined they can mask one another and make diagnosis and treatment more difficult.
When co-occurring disorders exist, treatment for both addiction and mental illness is necessary to address the underlying causes and symptoms of each. SAMHSA recommends an integrated approach that coordinates substance use and mental illness interventions. Treatment is possible for both disorders, but without addressing each disorder as a distinct condition, the intertwined problems with one or both illnesses may persist.
Prevalence of mental illness
Every year, NAMI and other organizations observe May is Mental Health Month to call attention to the prevalence of mental illness and the importance of getting treatment. This year, NAMI's theme for all awareness events throughout 2018 is "CureStigma," which positions public perception surrounding mental health disorders as a disease in its own right.
"There’s a virus spreading across America," states NAMI. "It’s stigma against people with mental health conditions. But there’s good news. Stigma is 100% curable. Compassion, empathy and understanding are the antidote."
Separately, the stigma against people suffering from addiction must also be challenged so that treatment - including medication treatment for addiction - can be more easily accessed by patients.
As a part of its mental health education campaign, NAMI is encouraging communities to help spread awareness of how prevalent mental illness actually is and how it affects different groups of people:
- Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease.
- Mood disorders, including major depression, dysthymic disorder and bipolar disorder, are the third most common cause of hospitalization in the U.S. for both youth and adults aged 18–44.
- Serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year.
- Individuals living with serious mental illness face an increased risk of having chronic medical conditions. Adults in the U.S. living with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than others, largely due to treatable medical conditions.
- Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., the 3rd leading cause of death for people aged 10-14 and the 2nd leading cause of death for people aged 15-24.
(Infographic source: SAMHSA)
- 18.1% of adults in the U.S. experienced an anxiety disorder such as posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and specific phobias.
- 6.9% of adults in the U.S.—16 million—had at least one major depressive episode in the past year.
- 2.6% of adults in the U.S. live with bipolar disorder.
- 1.1% of adults in the U.S. live with schizophrenia.
- Only 41% of adults in the U.S. with a mental health condition received mental health services in the past year. Among adults with a serious mental illness, 62.9% received mental health services in the past year.
- Approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13%.
- Half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14; three-quarters by age 24. Despite effective treatment, there are long delays—sometimes decades—between the first appearance of symptoms and when people get help.
(Infographic source: National Council for Behavioral Health)
- More than 90% of children who die by suicide have a mental health condition.
- Only half (50.6%) of children aged 8-15 received mental health services in the previous year.
- 70% of youth in juvenile justice systems have at least one mental health condition and at least 20% live with a serious mental illness.
- Over one-third (37%) of students with a mental health condition aged 14–21 and older who are served by special education drop out—the highest dropout rate of any disability group.
- An estimated 26% of homeless adults staying in shelters live with serious mental illness and an estimated 46% live with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
- Approximately 20% of state prisoners and 21% of local jail prisoners have “a recent history” of a mental health condition.
- African Americans and Hispanic Americans each use mental health services at about one-half the rate of Caucasian Americans, and Asian Americans at about one-third the rate.
- Each day, an estimated 18-22 veterans die by suicide.
Helping, and getting help
Millions of people live with the daily reality of mental illness and co-occurring disorders. Treatment and recovery is never a "one-size fits all" journey, and SAMHSA recommends a comprehensive assessment as a first step to inform an integrated treatment plan for anyone suffering from a co-occurring disorder. Early detection and treatment are linked to better outcomes and quality of life, so experts advise people to seek medical treatment for both disorders as soon as possible.
(Infographic source: National Council for Behavioral Health)
Above all, do your part to cure the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction so that people who suffer from either or both disorders are more likely to seek help. Offer acceptance instead of judgment, just as you would with those suffering from a different illness. Help those in need find medical treatment and other forms of support for their disorder. And check your own attitudes: if you think you may be infected by stigma, click here to take this quiz from NAMI, and get a free gift to help spread the cure.
CleanSlate treats patients suffering from addiction with medication and a continuum of care that addresses the full scope of their recovery. We work closely with community partners - including behavioral and mental health experts - to approach every patient as an individual, creating a tailored treatment plan for each patient. If you or someone you know suffers from a co-occurring disorder, contact us at 833-505-HOPE or visit our website at www.cleanslatecenters.com
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