Why Dual Diagnosis Must Be Recognised and Treated Correctly

Addiction and mental health issues often go hand in hand. Many people with mental health problems such as anxiety disorder or depression will turn to substances like alcohol or drugs to provide temporary relief for their conditions. Taking drugs or drinking alcohol may make them forget their problems but the more they abuse the substance, the greater their risk of addiction.

On the flip side, those who have developed drug or alcohol addictions may then develop mental health conditions such as depression as they struggle to cope with the weight of their problems. Those who are dealing with both addiction and mental health problems are said to have a dual diagnosis and so require more complex treatment programmes. Thankfully, many organisations around the UK provide specialist care to those with dual diagnosis.

When Dual Diagnosis Affects Recovery

It is essential that those with dual diagnosis get sufficient care for their addiction and their mental health disorder. Unfortunately, dual diagnosis patients often fail to get the help they need because their condition acts as an obstacle they cannot get around.

Those who have mental health problems are often in denial about their addiction, which in turn prevents them from seeking the help they need. They find it difficult to escape their addiction because of their mental health condition and their addiction makes it more difficult for them to get help for their mental health problems; it is what is known as a Catch-22 situation.

Treating Dual Diagnosis

In the past, dual diagnosis patients were often at greater risk of relapse because not enough was understood about their condition. Rehabilitation often just focused on treating the addiction and once the patient left rehab, he or she would still have the mental health problems that may have been the reason this individual started abusing chemical substances in the first place.

These days, counsellors and therapists are fully aware of dual diagnosis and how it needs to be treated. Many treatment providers have fully trained staff experienced in helping dual diagnosis patients to overcome their illnesses. This means that both conditions will be treated at the same time to give the patient a greater chance of successful long-term recovery from addiction.

The Dangers of Not Treating Dual Diagnosis Correctly
Unfortunately, some patients with dual diagnosis still do not get the help they need for their problems. Those with dual diagnosis treated only for their addiction may find that sobriety is a major struggle and symptoms from their mental health conditions may become more pronounced. This could mean that they are at greater risk of relapse.

Those who do not realise the affected person is suffering from dual diagnosis may assume that he or she is not putting in enough effort to overcome his/her addiction. Voicing these opinions may make the patient feel inadequate leading to him/her suffering with low self-esteem, which can again result in relapse.

Those who are told they are not working their programme correctly or are not putting in enough effort may try even harder to do well in recovery. If they fail to see any progress, they may become extremely frustrated and disappointed, possibly leading to serious consequences, including suicide.

Getting Appropriate Help

If you have been struggling with your recovery or are worried about how a loved one is coping, call us here at Middlegate today. It may be that you have dual diagnosis that has not been correctly treated. Our experts will assess your situation and will recommend an appropriate treatment programme based on your needs and circumstances. We can help you to get the most from your recovery and ensure you do not end up back where you started.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

The Effect of Substance Abuse on Oral Health

Most people are aware that abuse of substances such as alcohol and drugs can cause a number of physical and mental health problems. Alcoholism and addiction can lead to heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, depression, anxiety, and dementia.

Some drugs can have a devastating effect on teeth and gums, and because many addicts do not practice good oral hygiene means that tooth decay and associated problems are quite common. Addicts often suffer from conditions such as gingivitis, chronic tooth decay, and cracked teeth. Unfortunately, very few of them will seek help from a dentist and will just ignore the problem.

Oral Hygiene

People who become addicted to substances such as alcohol or drugs tend to think of nothing but their need for the substance to which they have become addicted. They often neglect their personal hygiene and grooming, and oral health will certainly not be on top of their agenda. Many do not eat healthily, and alcoholics, especially, tend to get most of their calories from alcohol.

With such poor oral hygiene, it is no surprise that many addicts and alcoholics suffer pain in the mouth. Nevertheless, true to form, they tend to self-medicate with either alcohol or drugs instead of seeking help from a qualified dentist.

Teeth and gums can be further aggravated by vomiting, which is often a common side effect of substance abuse.

Tooth Decay in Alcoholics

Alcoholic beverages are generally quite high in sugar, which can lead to tooth decay, especially in those who are failing to brush their teeth regularly. Alcoholics often spend little time worrying about their personal or oral hygiene and many tend to go for long periods without brushing their teeth. This means they are prone to tooth decay and gum disease.

Meth Mouth

Meth mouth is a condition caused by the drug methamphetamine. Users of this drug tend to suffer from rotten, broken and discoloured teeth. This illegal drug can cause a dry mouth because it stops the saliva glands from producing saliva. This means that acid from food and drink erodes the enamel on the teeth and because addicts tend to neglect their oral hygiene, their teeth suffer even more. The highly corrosive ingredients found in methamphetamine cause extreme tooth decay and can also result in sores in the mouth.

How Stimulant Drugs Affect the Teeth

Those who are addicted to illegal stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamine and ecstasy tend to grind or clench their teeth while intoxicated. This often results in the teeth being ground down and cracked. When teeth are cracked and damaged, it can lead to further problems in the mouth, including root and gum damage. Teeth can become loose and may need to be removed. Stimulant drugs also result in dry mouth, and those who abuse these drugs also tend to drink alcohol or sugary soft drinks, exacerbating tooth decay.

The Effect of Heroin on the Teeth

Heroin has a devastating effect on the teeth and gums of those addicted. Heroin addicts often fail to practice any oral hygiene, resulting in serious problems such as severe tooth decay, gum disease, snapping teeth and mouth trauma. This tends to be due to the sugary food and drink diet that they have because of the drug as well as the fact that they will usually neglect to brush teeth.

Alcohol and drugs cause many problems, but the effect on oral health can be devastating.

About Middlegate - Alcohol Rehab London

If you need help in the london area, then please contact us for information on the latest information on places in london alcohol rehabs as well as greater lodnon drug rehabs.

We also provide advice all across the UK, and world-wide, and our only aim to to get people with alcohol or drug misuse problems, the best help available in order to help them get well as quickly as possible.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

Helping a Loved One with Addiction

Family members suffer when a loved one struggles with addiction. Although they are not physically affected by the illness, they do suffer mental and emotional issues and it can place an enormous strain on family relationships. It is hard to watch a loved one struggle in this way, and family members will all react in different ways.

Some will want to take over and will believe that they can ‘fix’ their loved one. They are of the opinion that all that is needed is to make him or her see sense and that the affected individual will then stop drinking or taking drugs. If only it were that simple. Sadly, many addicts are unable or unwilling to stop, and no amount of pleading or begging will change that.

Addicts are skilled at making others believe what they want them to and will tell their loved ones whatever it is they want to hear if it means the addict can continue with his or her destructive behaviour. Family members are often left hurt and disappointed with their loved one’s actions. After a while, they will find it hard to believe anything their addicted loved one tells them.

If a Loved One Recognises the Problem

In the beginning, most addicts will not be able to see that they have a problem. As addiction is a progressive illness, he or she will slowly get worse; it may take some time before the addiction is something this person can see as being a destructive force.

The ideal situation for family members and friends is that their addicted loved one will get to a point where they can see that there is a problem and will reach out for help. Before this can happen, the affected individual will have to firstly recognise that the addiction is out of control.

You may have heard the expression ‘rock bottom’ in relation to addiction. This is typically the point at which an addicted person realises that his or her addiction has become a problem and that a change needs to be made. It could be triggered by a health issue or an ultimatum given by a loved one. Either of these situations can make an addicted person see that his or her actions are causing negative consequences for themselves and those around them.

Helping with Treatment

However, it is not enough for the addicted person to simply agree and promise to stop. He or she must take steps towards rectifying the situation. This is where you can help – you can encourage your loved one to get help and do whatever it takes to make this possible.

This could mean helping out by taking care of children or pets so that the addicted person can enter a rehabilitation treatment centre if necessary. You could also help by taking the individual to a doctor or counsellor for appointments.

If you really want to help, contact us here at Middlegate today. We offer a free service to those dealing with addiction as well as to their family members. We have a team of expert advisors ready to take your call and they will be able to offer you helpful advice on taking the next steps.

As a referral service, we do not provide treatment for addiction. However, we work with a wide range of organisations in both the public and private sectors and we will be able to make a referral to a suitable treatment provider based on the needs and circumstances of each client. We will carry out a full assessment of the situation before offering advice and information on the treatments available and how to access them.

If you would like more information on our free and confidential service, contact us today.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here