Addiction relapse and mental health problems

by Nelson Conway.
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Recent research suggests a link between recovering addicts who suffer relapses and serious mental health issues such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

According to Stephen Gilman, MD, an addiction specialist in New York, people with drug or alcohol problems are always at risk for a potential relapse, no matter how much drug treatment they've received or how long they've been sober. This is because "an addictive disorder is a chronic disorder. As there is no cure, there is always the potential for relapse. Anyone can relapse."

One of the many things that can happen before a person successfully completes treatment at a drug or alcohol abuse center is that they are warned about potential relapses and given warning signs and ways to cope with possible relapses. Despite this, many people have trouble staying clean and sober upon leaving their drug or alcohol treatment - as many as 90 percent have some sort of relapse. Scientists and doctors are now beginning to understand that the link between addiction and mental health problems plays in a person's relapse.

The link between addiction and mental health is already well-known - as many as 50 percent of people with bipolar disorder have an addiction that requires them to go into alcohol or drug rehabilitation. But new research shows that conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia make people much more likely to have a relapse after drug rehabs than people who do not have similar mental health issues. Attention deficit disorder, depression and social anxiety are other mental health problems that can lead to relapses down the road. One of the reasons is that these disorders can cause recovering addicts to not be able to deal adequately with the types of social and environmental stressors that often times push people into a relapse.

These are all reasons why a big part of addiction treatment is going beyond the addiction to get at the root problems that caused people to abuse drugs and alcohol in the first place. People who are able to treat their psychological issues are much more likely to be able to resist the urge to relapse and remain clean and sober for the long term.

Nelson Conway is a freelance writer living in Pasadena, Calif. His work has been published by magazines and major online news sites.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/addiction/understanding-addiction-relapse.aspx

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