Educational Video suitable for classroom and Professional training.
“Millions of American today receive health care for mental or substance-use problems and illnesses. These conditions are the leading cause of combined disability and death of women and the second highest of men
“Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Conditions,” Institute of Medicine Report.
Studies are showing an alarming trend; that incidents of mental illness related to drug use are on the rise. It’s unclear which came first- did a predisposition to mental illness lead to drug use, or is it the other way around?
No matter, co-occurring disorders are a growing national problem.
During this hour-long broadcast, hear from treatment providers and experts as they discuss the delicate balance between treating a person’s addiction and his or her mental illness. Learn about the stigma attached to mental illness and how local and regional coalitions are trying to fight it.
Objectives: Define co-occurring disorders; Learn about the difficulty treating co-occurring disorders; Discover solutions to the problems both communities and patients face; See how community-based organizations can help improve the local climate to assist those in recovery from substance use disorders and mental health problems.
A National Survey on Drug Use and Health will be released today, stating that about 20 Milion people used illicit drugs during the past month.
Drug use increased among those 50-59 years old as more baby boomers joined that age group. Previously, their drug use rose from 4.3 percent in 2006 to 5 percent in 2007.
According to John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, “Baby boomers have much higher rates of self-destructive behaviors than any other age group from which we have statistics.”
About 20% of young adults acknowledged illicit drug use within the previous month last year, a rate that has held steady. However cocaine use declined by 25% and meth by 33%. Cocaine and methamphetamine use declined last year mainly due to dwindling supplies which lead to higher costs and less potency.
Across the board, the overall use of illicit drugs showed little change.
The main goals of a European collaborative initiative that was launched today hope to discover the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Substance Abuse Disorders. Soon, 14 addiction treatment centers in 10 countries will include over 6,000 patients with Substance Abuse Disorders.
U.K health officials classify problem drinkers.
In an effort to combat problem drinking with “social marketing techniques,” the British Department of Health has released a study purporting to break down heavy drinkers into 9 distinct personality types, according to the U.K. Guardian.
British Department of Health researchers performed the studies at the behest of the National Health Service, which says that alcohol-related illnesses cost England almost $5 billion each year. It was unclear what criteria were used to identify and define the nine types.
BBC news quoted Health Minister Dawn Primarolo on the findings: "This will be a tough one to crack. Research found many positive associations with alcohol among the general public - even more so among those drinking at higher-risk levels. For these people alcohol is embedded in their identity and lifestyle: so much so that challenging this behaviour results in high levels of defensiveness, rejection or even outright denial."
The idea behind the investigation is to identify the social and psychological characteristics of problem drinkers “in an attempt to devise more effective public health campaigns to encourage safer use of alcohol.”
THE NINE TYPES OF DRINKER1) Depressed drinker:
Life in a state of crisis. Alcohol as self-medication, comforter. Any sex, all age groups.
2) De-stress drinker:
Stressful job and/or home life. Alcohol as relaxation, dividing line between work and personal life. Middle class men and women.
3) Re-bonding drinker:
People with a crammed calendar. Alcohol as “shared connector,” a means of keeping close to others.
4) Conformist drinker:
Traditonalist drinker. Alcohol as “me time,” the pub as second home, a sense of belonging. Typically middle-aged men in blue-collar or clerical jobs.
5) Community drinker:
Alcohol as social network, a sense of safety and security. Lower middle class men and women who drink in large social groups.
6) Boredom drinker:
Alcohol as stimulation, comfort in isolation. Often single moms or recent divorcees.
7) Macho drinker:
Alpha males, drinking as an assertion of masculinity, alcohol as a competition.
8) Hedonistic drinker:
Excessive drinking as an assertion of independence, freedom, release from inhibitions. Often single or divorced men or women, or older drinkers with grown children.
9) Border dependents:
Alcohol as a defense against the need to conform, and a general sense of malaise. Typically men for whom the pub is “home.”
The research was done as part of a renewed effort to to crack down on heavy drinkers. A pilot program will be undertaken over the coming months to target heavy drinkers. More than 900,000 households will be mailed information highlighting the link between drinking and conditions such as cancer and liver disease.
photo credit: http://www.ulv.edu
story credit: Dirk Hanson (Awesome Blog)
Educational Video suitable for classroom and Professional training.
