How we support co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
One of the most common triggers for alcohol abuse is ADHD. Undiagnosed and, therefore, untreated ADHD causes more than just inattention or hyperactivity for many patients; it can prime patients for addiction. ADHD is associated with a dopamine deficiency in the brain's pre-frontal cortex, where thinking, judgment, and decision-making reside. It is not just the brain’s stimulant but also the brain’s joy. Without it, your body compensates by releasing more Adrenaline, also known as the Fight or Flight Hormone. It can feel terrible, so a GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) releaser like GABA often provides short-term comfort and long-term difficulty. GABA regulates nerve cell activity and has a calming effect on the central nervous system.
If you lack dopamine, you may crave “Dope.” If taking an opiate increases your level of energy, that may be an indication that you have undiagnosed ADHD. Many people do not realize that they are deficient in dopamine until they have surgery and experience an opiate. For these patients, at first, it may seem like a cure for anxiety, inattention, racing thoughts, and lack of energy. It is short-term relief with an excessively big rebound effect. That is how many people become addicted following an injury or surgery.
Bipolar Disorder:
Opiates often provide a sedating effect for patients with bipolar Opioids can have a sedating effect on bipolar disorder patients; however, they can cause similar complications as ADHD, as the artificial dopamine may deplete the natural dopamine.
Bipolar Disorder is also a risk factor for alcohol addiction. The highs and lows of bipolar also make people tend to gravitate toward a drug that releases GABA.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
This condition is partly caused by a deficiency of serotonin, also known as the calm, happy hormone. People who lack this chemical tend to be calmed by the immediate relief they feel upon the release of GABA. Still, the rebound of anxiety is so high that it becomes even more challenging to resist the urge when the anxiety returns.
Major Depressive Disorder:
This condition is also known as one partly driven by a lack of serotonin and other chemical mediators. It tends to provide instant relief of the pain of suffering by the temporary numbing effect it provides, yet it is the most powerful depressant drug available by legal purchase. The rebound effect of alcohol on depression is so severe that the constant pursuit of numbness becomes the goal.
Other Conditions:
Alcohol is often used as a form of self-medication for various conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorders, which can cause individuals to seek to numb memories, ease compulsions, and hide hallucinations.
Additional Information:
Alcohol renders anti-psychotic drugs ineffective, and no anti-depressant can overpower its effects. Additionally, alcohol can worsen depression and trigger suicidal thoughts.
