Substance Abuse and Mental Health in West Virginia

Many of the residents of West Virginia who have been diagnosed with an addiction or a substance use disorder also struggle with co-occurring behavioral and mental health disorders. When this happens, it is also known as a co-occurring disorder or a dual diagnosis.

In case you have received such a diagnosis, you would require a highly integrated dual diagnosis treatment and rehabilitation program that addresses all the disorders that you have been struggling with.

Unfortunately, dual diagnosis conditions are so common in West Virginia that almost 45 percent of all the people living with a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring medical or mental health disorder.

Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders

Addiction is often caused by underlying mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and trauma - among many others. In the same way, the issues that you struggle with during your active substance abuse and addiction could lead to the development of psychosocial problems that give rise to the development of mental illness.

When you are struggling with a dual diagnosis of addiction and a co-occurring mental health disorder, you would require integrated dual diagnosis treatment in West Virginia. These conditions are quite common in the state, with SAMHSA - the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - reporting that many people here struggle with them.

Some of the mental illnesses that tend to occur at the same time with addiction in West Virginia include but are not limited to mood disorders, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders.

Often, it can be difficult - even for highly trained mental health and medical professionals - to figure out the problems that started first. This is because living with an addiction in West Virginia could cause you to start displaying the signs and symptoms of a psychiatric disorder due to your abuse of drugs and alcohol. on the other hands, living with a mental illness could increase your risk of abusing these intoxicating substances.

When you do so, the substances could alter the structure, chemical composition, and functioning of your brain. As a result, you will soon realize that you have started struggling with mental illness - or at least some signs and symptoms of addiction that are psychological in nature.

If you have a dual diagnosis comprised of addiction as well as a co-occurring mental health disorder, you might have a high risk of struggling with the issues that are typically associated with all of these disorders. For this reason, you will require intensive integrated dual diagnosis treatment to manage all the disorders that you have been diagnosed with.

Often, when you enroll in such a treatment program, you will receive a thorough evaluation to determine your emotional, mental health, and physical needs. After that, you will be treated for your substance abuse and addiction while also receiving care for the mental illnesses that you have been struggling with.

Some of the typical mental issues that are reported in West Virginia as co-occurring with substance use disorders include but are not limited to social anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, phobias, personality disorders, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder or GAD, eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, anxiety disorders, and agoraphobia.

Common Mental Health Problems Associated with Drug Abuse in West Virginia

Many of the people living in West Virginia with a substance use disorder involving alcohol and drugs also have underlying psychological or behavioral health issues like anxiety and depression. Due to these co-occurring mental health disorders, you might start abusing drugs and drinking alcohol in a bid to self-medicate.

The state of West Virginia currently has an estimated population of around 1.9 million residents. Unfortunately, SAMHSA reports that about 5.5 percent of all the adults in the state struggle with severe mental health disorders like major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

In the same way, SAMHSA has reported that only about 46 percent of the adults living with these mental illnesses in the state receive the treatment and rehabilitation services that they need to get started on the road to recovery. The remaining 54 percent do not seek any kind of treatment.

CBS News has also reported that West Virginia has among the highest rates of depression in the United States. the state is also ranked among the top of all states in terms of other mental illnesses.

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The CDC - the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - further adds that about 13 percent of the population of West Virginia live with depression. According to this report, 20 percent of these adults receive a diagnosis for diagnosis at least once in their lives. Another 17 percent of adults will receive a diagnosis for anxiety at least once in their lifetimes.

Among the residents of West Virginia above the age of 65 years and living in a nursing home, about 21 percent of men and 24 percent of women struggle with dementia. For Alzheimer's disease, it was reported that 6 percent of men and 12 percent of women were diagnosed with this disorder.

On the other hand, 7 percent of men and 12 percent of women within this age group were diagnosed with schizophrenia in the state while 60 percent of men and 62 percent of women receive a diagnosis of all mental health disorders.

Although the CDC does not provide statistic showing the rates of postpartum depression and severe psychological distress or depressive symptoms within the state, the NSDUH - the National Survey on Drug Use and Health - reports that West Virginia is above average in terms of the rates of psychological distress. The same survey shows that about 15 percent of women in the state struggle with postpartum depression.

SAMHSA, on the other hand, reports that 8 percent of all the residents of West Virginia struggle with substance abuse and addiction disorders. This is equal to about 152,000 people in the state. The same report shows that the state has about 182,000 residents living with a mental health disorder.

West Virginia has also been reported to have one of the highest rates of adults living with a severe psychological distress disorder at rates of 12 percent. In the same report, it was shown that about 20 percent of all the people in this state who had suffered a major depressive episode were also using or abusing drugs and alcohol.

In 2015, it was reported that 13 percent of the people who received mental health treatment services were also living with a substance use disorder or an addiction. Every year, the state also spends an average of $900 per person seeking help for mental health issues.

Types of Treatment

While suffering from a physical or mental health disorder, you might find that you are also dealing with a dependence involving alcohol and drugs. if you are struggling with pain - either mental or physical - you might start self-medicating using a wide variety of intoxicating substances. Although you might succeed in the short term in controlling the symptoms of your disorder, eventually you will find that you are also dealing with a dual diagnosis comprised of a mental health disorder as well as a co-occurring substance use disorder.

If you find yourself in this situation, it is recommended that you check into an integrated dual diagnosis treatment and rehabilitation center. These centers can help you receive the effective and high quality help that you need to overcome the disorders that you have been struggling with. Luckily, there are many such centers in West Virginia and they can guide you on the road to recovery.

While enrolled in these integrated dual diagnosis treatment facilities, you will first work on overcoming the immediate medical needs that are associated with your active drug and alcohol abuse. At the same time, you will also get the help that you require to address the mental illnesses that you were diagnosed with. Eventually, you will address the relationship between these disorders - and the role that each plays in the continuation and development of each other.

You will also have the opportunity to work with highly qualified and experienced mental health and addiction treatment professionals. They will determine the links between your mental illness and substance abuse as well as treat each condition separately but also simultaneously.

Since there is such a high rate of dual diagnosis of substance abuse and addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, it is essential that you receive highly individualized and personalized care services to deal with all your needs and requirements.

While enrolled in an accredited center that offers integrated dual diagnosis treatment and rehabilitation services in West Virginia, you will receive the various services that you need to manage your substance abuse and addiction as well as overcome the co-occurring mental health disorders that you were also diagnosed with. It is recommended that you contact one of these centers so that they can help you get started on the road to health, wellness, and recovery both in the short as well as in the long term.

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