Addiction and Mental Health

February 1, 2022

The rise of Addiction and advancements in Mental Health Services suggests that therapy, medications, and mindful living offers more relief than any stand-alone drug. To see a list of mental health supplements click Natural Health Relief.

Addiction is a complex condition, an illness that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences.

People with addiction, severe substance use disorder, have an intense focus on using a certain substance(s), such as alcohol or drugs but can also include sex and food (Psychiatry). People with addictions often consume to the point that it takes over their life.

How many addictions are there?

Theory of addiction, published by John Wiley & Sons, 2013, argues that it is possible to become “addicted” to positive behavior, which develops the character and the body. This positive behavior can help one to overcome negative addictions and leads one to an integrated and rewarding life. With an increase in technology, new emerging research has shown that internet addiction is on the rise. Internet addiction has been associated with dimensionally measured depression and indicators of social isolation.

The list of addictions is as numerous as personalities and the complexities are diverse. No matter the addiction(s) there is hope.

There is no universal pill, therapy, or single road to recovery but multiple roads and steps to overcome addiction.

Neurobiology is the biological study of the nervous system. If neurobiology is ultimately to contribute to the development of successful treatments for drug addiction, researchers must discover the molecular mechanisms by which drug-seeking behaviors are consolidated into compulsive use. Evidence at the molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral, and computational levels of analysis suggests that a person struggling with addiction and mental health encounter challenges in learning and memory (American Journal of Psychiatry).  

Costs of Addiction and Mental Health Recovery.

Addiction and mental health disorders impose large health and economic burdens on individuals, families, communities, and society. Costs go beyond physical but mental, emotional, and spiritual. Financially there are endless resources that can be purchased with no guarantee of success or cure. Relationships play a key role in recovery (National Institute of Health). In 2017, 19.7 million people age 12 or older in the United States were estimated to have a substance abuse disorder related to alcohol or illicit drug use. This value includes 14.5 million people with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) and 7.5 million people with an illicit drug use disorder, the most common illicit drug being marijuana. To date, the numbers are increasing.

If you or your loved one is experiencing addiction, understand that it is often a life long battle. Accountability and groups of vulnerability, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, offer a 12 step process with resources that cost vitally nothing.

Supportive Links:

“Social ties and mental health.” Journal of Urban health 78.3 (2001): 458-467.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1093/jurban/78.3.458

Prince, Martin, et al. “No health without mental health.” The lancet 370.9590 (2007): 859-877. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140673607612380

“Mental health literacy: past, present, and future.” The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 61.3 (2016): 154-158.  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0706743715616609

 “Global Mental Health.” The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology (2018): 1-10. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea1822

“Physical activity and mental health.” Sports medicine 29.3 (2000): 167-180.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00007256-200029030-00003

Scientific advances have shown that addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that results from the prolonged effects of drugs on the brain. As with many other brain diseases, addiction has embedded behavioral and social-context aspects that are important parts of the disorder itself. Therefore, the most effective treatment approaches will include biological, behavioral, and social-context components (American Association for the Advancement of Science). Western Pharmaceuticals have often been prescribed for addictions and rarely have there been long term success. Natural Medicine has historically been with fewer side effects. If you are seeking more resources contact Zen’s Medicine Staff CLICK HERE.

Note: “Western Pharmaceutical” is defined as a system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery. Quote from National Cancer Institute: http://www.cancer.gov

Zen's Medicine Staff
Written by Zen’s Medicine Staff

Holistic Health: is mindfulness of one’s mind, body, emotions, spirit, environment & social group.

Categories

Archives

Related Articles

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD

Research indicates, 7 to 12 percent of people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lives. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur after a person experiences a traumatic event such as combat or military experience, sexual or physical...

read more
Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of one's arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of one's body. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can damage the heart and cause health...

read more
Insomnia

Insomnia

Insomnia disorder affects a large proportion of the population on a situational, recurrent or chronic basis and is among the most common complaints in medical practice. The disorder is predominantly characterized by dissatisfaction with sleep duration or quality and...

read more
0 Comments

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *