Rehab Articles
Are bipolar teens at a higher risk of substance abuse? According to research that was recently completed by Dr. Benjamin Goldstein the answer is yes! The research study was published in the medical journal Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the results show that a bipolar teen has a one in three chance of substance abuse and possibly addiction before they reach their twenties. The study involved 167 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17, and the results show that many teens turn to substance abuse to help medicate the extreme mood swings and other symptoms of bipolar disorder. Data that was taken from the Course and Outcome of Bipolar Youth database and used for this study as well.
The teens that were involved in the study were periodically interviewed over the course of a four year period, for an average of 7 times. In addition there were additional factors that may also contribute to substance abuse. These other factors included a family history of substance abuse, no antidepressant treatment, oppositional defiant disorder, a lack of family cohesion, and panic disorder. These factors were determined to be predicting factors in a higher risk of future substance abuse, the same as bipolar disorder. According to Dr. Goldstein who oversaw the study these findings are important in order to develop more effective preventative strategies that reach bipolar teens. The National Institute of Mental Health funds the COBY study, and this is the biggest study for bipolar in teens.
Rehab Articles
A new study conducted at St. Michael’s Hospital’s Center for Research on Inner City Health by research scientist Dr. Flora Matheson shows that there is a potential link between problem gambling and substance abuse. The sturdy was performed in partnership with the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, and the results can be found published online in the journal ISRN Addiction. There were two interesting results that some found surprising. The first is that there is between 10% and 20% of the population that have both problem gambling and substance abuse issues, but this population is also least likely to find effective treatment programs that can provide results with both issues. The second interesting result was that individuals who had both problem gambling and substance abuse were less responsive to typical treatment programs, leaving them with fewer resources that can help.
Both substance abuse and problem gambling have an impulse component, and some researchers have speculated that a single disorder may cause both issues. The treatment programs that are currently available are not targeted to treating both problems at the same time, and few who suffer from substance abuse and problem gambling are being reached. The study involved reviewing the literature on both problem gambling and substance abuse. This research showed a correlation that is high and a treatment response that is less than average. Problem gambling alone can be effectively treated in many cases, and so can substance abuse. When these two factors are combined the individual is less likely to seek treatment or find a permanent recovery. The Crossing Point has programs that can address both these issues at the same time for a better recovery.
