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Substance Abuse

1 Comment / Abuse, Drug Abuse, drugs /

Link Between Drubs and Mental Disorder Addictive, According to JAMA The Journal of American Medical Association recently published a study on the association between mental disorders and drug abuse, finding that addictive disorders were prevalent in those studied. The aim of the study was to find out how close mental disorders are linked to drug or alcohol abuse, and the results were surprising. The study researched 20,291 people in the National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program, according to the report in JAMA. The estimated lifetime prevalence rates for a person with a mental disorder but who did not abuse substances was 22.5%. Those who abused alcohol were lowered to 13.5%, while those who abuse other drugs dipped to 6.1%. Those who already presented with a mental disorder had were at a 2.7 odds of also having an addictive disorder, with the lifetime prevalence rate at 29% for those who did not abuse substances. Those who had a substance abuse disorder had odds of seven times more of having other addictive disorders than the general population. Among the subjects with alcohol disorders, 37% were found to also have a comorbid disorder. The highest comorbidity rate for mental-addictive disorders was found in those who had drug disorders. More than half of them had mental disorders with the odds ratio at 4.5. Those treated in specialty clinical settings raise the odds of having comorbid disorders. In institutional settings, the comorbidity of severe mental disorders and addiction rose the most in prisons, where schizophrenia, antisocial personality, and bipolar disorders were prevalent. The study proves that substance abuse is nearly always tied with  mental illness, but mental illness is not always tied to substance abuse. The main types of mental illness found in substance abuse are addictive personality disorders. Read the full report here: Journal of American Medical Association Call Vancouver Home Health Care Agency to talk more about substance abuse and its association with mental health. At Vancouver Home Health Care Agency, Caring and Compassion is our business.

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Incarceration Vs. Treatment Part Three Of Five

Leave a Comment / Drug Abuse, drugs, Incarceration, Treatment /

Incarceration Vs. Treatment Part Three Of Five: The Cost Effectiveness of Treatment Broken Down Part two of this series reviewed how treatment costs less than incarceration. However, the Justice Policy Institute released an in-depth look at the overall cost effectiveness of treatment, and found that, dollar for dollar, treatment is better. The study found that, when using a cost-benefit analysis, treatment benefited employment rates, tax revenues, and society as a whole. The study discovered that drug treatment programs inside a prison only yielded a benefit of approximately two dollars for every dollar spent on the program. However, outside treatment programs, such as a work release program, yielded a nearly nine dollar benefit for every dollar spent. Additionally, individuals attending programs outside prison tend to finish the programs, as compared to in prison programs, and have lower recidivism rates. A number of other programs were found to be cost effective as well, such as community-based substance abuse treatment, intensive supervision programs, work release, and post-incarceration programming. The study did find, however, that some programs showed no significant payback on dollars spent, such as case management substance abuse programs. The economic benefits of individuals living in the communities, building families, and working to provide back into the local economy was not measured in this study, however, it is recognized as an advantage to the community. While it is difficult to measure this advantage, it is still noted that having people at home rather than tying up the prison system is preferable after their rehabilitation measures are completed. Basically, these programs return nearly eight dollars in benefits to society for every one dollar spent on treatment. It makes economic sense, when broken down into these numbers, to choose treatment over incarceration. The research is available and it is conclusive, so taxpayers are beginning to turn their attention to treatment and how to allocate government funds to treatment programs over incarceration. If you’d like to talk more about the economic breakdown of rehabilitation, contact Vancouver Home Health Care Agency today. At Vancouver Home Health Care Agency, Caring and Compassion is our business.

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Incarceration Vs. Treatment Part One Of Five

Leave a Comment / Addiction, drugs, Treatment /

Incarceration Vs. Treatment Part One Of Five: The National Drug Imprisonment Problem In 2004, the state of Maryland, under the Justice Policy Institute, released a study titled, “Treatment or Incarceration?” While the study is dated, many of the points remain true today, because the study reveals that treatment triumphs over incarceration. This is the first of five articles discussing the study, its findings, and how treatment is always better than incarceration, especially in saving state funds. Many states across the nation face fiscal challenges, in part due to the number of drug incarcerations in state prisons. Due to the funds being allocated to prisoners and not to research, states cannot properly research why drug offenders repeatedly find themselves in prison. Many taxpayers are frustrated by the vortex that is drug imprisonment: people are imprisoned, offered no rehabilitation, and are released to become repeat offenders. Many citizens are in favor of judges ordering treatment rather than incarceration, however, more government funds are being allocated to prison over treatment centers. Many treatment centers remain private pay facilities. In Maryland, and across the country, people understand that the prison system is clogged with addicts, not necessarily criminals. Many citizens believe that the prison system can be cleaned out and funds can be reassigned if the government were willing to pay for rehabilitation instead of incarceration. A growing number of people are calling for drug addicts to get help, not locked up, and the reason is because people believe jail is harmful. A number of people polled in the Maryland 2004 study believed that incarcerated individuals are more likely to commit crimes after prison time than before prison. Studies prove that this is true. In 2002, the New York Times reported that the rate of released inmates who commit repeat crimes continues to rise. This means that a drug addict, who may not have committed any major crimes before prison, is far more likely to commit crimes after release from prison, even if the charge is only for the possession of illegal drugs. The same person may not commit any crimes if the sentence were for a rehabilitation facility instead. Unfortunately, not enough studies exist to determine the percentage of people who commit crimes after rehabilitation. The United States government counters these arguments by stating that some violent offenses are committed while the person is on drugs. While this is true, and those people should be incarcerated, it is also true that non-violent people clog the prison system. Those who have never committed a violent act are sent to prison for using and selling drugs when rehabilitation would be far more beneficial. Rehabilitation benefits in other ways as well, as highlighted in the rest of this series of articles on rehabilitation versus incarceration. If you’d like to talk more about rehabilitation versus incarceration, contact Vancouver Home Health Care Agency today. At Vancouver Home Health Care Agency, Caring and Compassion is our business.    

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The Neurological Effects

Leave a Comment / Addiction, drugs, Overdose /

The Neurological Effects of Heroin Heroin is known as an opioid drug, synthesized from morphine. While morphine occurs naturally from Asian poppy plants, there is nothing natural about heroin. It typically looks like a brown or white powder, or as “black tar”, a sticky, black substance. The drug has a dependency rate of 23 percent; this is the percent of people who become addicted after just one use. The drug is used by injection, inhalation, or smoking. The drug travels to the brain quickly via all three methods, which is why it is among the most dangerous drugs on the market. Addiction happens quickly and often, and heroin use is a chronic relapsing disease. This is due to the changes it causes in the brain. How it Affects the Brain Upon entrance to the brain, heroin changes back to its original morphine. This drug binds to the brain cells called opioid receptors. These are located all over the brain, but are concentrated in the reward and pain sections. The receptors are also heavily located in the brain stem, which controls a number of functions essential to existence. An overdose of this drug often involves breathing suppression. This leads to hypoxia, or a loss of oxygen to the brain. Depending on how long the sufferer has limited oxygen supply, the effects can vary from psychological damage to brain death. Permanent brain damage is also a possibility with overdose. Heroin produces a euphoric rush, followed by flushed skin, dry mouth, heaviness in the arms and legs, and limited mental functions. After the initial rush, the drug suppresses the user’s brain stem, causing an alternate sleepy to energized state. Research is currently being conducted into the long term effects of this drug on the brain. One of the noted results was tolerance to the drug, another was dependence on the drug, more so than other illicit drugs or alcohol. Some studies return a deterioration of the white matter in the brain through heroin use. If you’d like to talk more about heroin effects on the brain, call the Vancouver Home Health Care Agency today. At Vancouver Home Health Care Agency, Caring and Compassion is our business.

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