Is Addiction Part of a Bigger Problem?

Many of our American contemporaries have grown up in a quick-fix society, as many of us have experienced. Whatever our objective is at the time, it must be achieved as soon as possible. A common phrase used with the intent to decelerate our behavior is, “slow down and smell the roses.” We rarely heed such admonitions when we want to eat; we need to “eat now.”  We must take note of the rise of fast-food restaurants, where we can eat quickly and move toward our next objective. When we must travel, we usually travel by the quickest mode to reach our destination. This same principal also applies to problems we may experience. For example, we view on television commercials advertising the product that will rid us of a headache the fastest.

If we experience an episode of depression (the common cold of mental illness), or an anxiety provoking experience, we want relief as soon as possible. The prevalence of drug use in our society has continued to grow and there is a relationship between drug and alcohol use and psychiatric disorders (Landry 1999, Lehman 1989, Meyer 1986). These researchers found:
• Alcohol and/or drug use can cause psychiatric symptoms and mimic psychiatric disorders.
• Acute and chronic use of drugs and/or alcohol can prompt the development, provoke the re-emergence, or exacerbate pre-existing disorders.
• Withdrawal from drugs and/or alcohol use can cause psychiatric symptoms and mimic psychiatric syndromes. Cessation of the use of drugs and/or alcohol after developing a physical dependence can cause clusters of psychiatric symptoms which resemble psychiatric disorders.
• Psychiatric disorders can coexist with drug and/or alcohol disorders. One disorder may prompt the emergence of the other. And there is the possibility of the two disorders existing independently, thus requiring treatment for both.
• Psychiatric behavior can mimic behaviors associated with drug and/or alcohol use.

Let us consider a few common psychiatric disorders frequently associated with drug and/or alcohol use. Data compiled by National Institute of Mental Health found that mental health patients demonstrate more than a 30-32% probability of meeting diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder, 21% meeting diagnostic criteria for depression, and approximately 17% will meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD.

Consider Bob (fictitious name), a 35-year-old patient, presenting bipolar disorder. His first symptoms of alcohol abuse and manic episodes started at age 18. He continues to experience alcoholism in addition to manic depressive episodes. He was later introduced to methamphetamine at age 25. The methamphetamine energized him during depressive episodes and alcohol managed his manic episodes. Now Bob needs treatment for bipolar disorder as well as treatment for alcohol and methamphetamine. Such cases can be very complex and complicated, thus requiring a good psychiatric evaluation and assessment for appropriate treatment.

Bipolar disorder is typically characterized by manic or depressive episodes and the symptoms during manic periods include:
• Mania
• Decreased need for sleep
• Feelings of elation or euphoria
• Increased libido or sex drive
• Racing thoughts, rapid and pressured speech
• Poor judgment
• Diminished insight
• Hyperactivity
• Increased drugs and/or alcohol us

Depressive episodes in Bipolar disorder include:
• Feeling hopeless and helpless
• Depressed mood
• Anxiety
• Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
• Difficulty with concentration and focusing
• Memory impairment
• Sleep and appetite disturbance
• Loss of energy, lack of motivation
• Anhedonia, which is the inability to experience pleasure

These feelings create such misery one might do anything to escape, including suicide. It might be easy to understand why one might turn to drugs and alcohol for a quick fix. However, turning to drugs is very dangerous and possibly lethal
It is imperative that one who has experienced such feelings become informed by seeking appropriate treatment before the drugs and/or alcohol become a quick fix and subsequently lead to increased misery.

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