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People Suffering Serious Mental Illness Die 25 Years Earlier – And Alcohol is a Major Factor.

alcohol abuse & smokingIn the second of a series of articles on our blog related to the factors that put people with serious mental illness at higher risk of mortality, we focus on the complexities of alcohol abuse by those with dual disorders.

According to a report published by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Medical Directors Council: “…alcohol and other substance use disorders co-occur in 40-70% of the population with SMI {Serious Mental Illness}.”

There are a number of reasons why. The National Alliance on Mental Illness points to drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication. Consider people with conditions such as anxiety or depression who feel calmer or less depressed when they drink. If their mental illness is untreated, or perhaps inadequately treated, then the alcohol can be a temporary feel-good fix.

But alcohol abuse can actually make the underlying mental illness worse. A person with depression, for instance, can become suicidal while intoxicated. Or perhaps a person who experiences panic attacks feels worsening symptoms while trying to stay sober.

The prognosis for recovery is not as strong for a person with mental illness who is also actively using substances (ie: has a dual disorder) as it would be if they did not have a dual disorder. People who are actively using are less likely to follow through with treatment plans. They are less likely to take their medication and more likely to miss appointments — which leads to more hospital visits and other adverse outcomes related to their mental illness diagnosis as well as unrelated medical conditions that they neglected to treat.

People with a dual disorder who take an active role in their treatment and use available support from health care providers and family are more likely to recover and lead healthier lives. At our residential treatment programs for dual disorders, we encourage a whole-life approach to wellness and recovery providing information and encouraging family support .

Stay tuned for a series of articles on our blog related to preventable causes of death for those with mental disorders and resources for support. Subscribe to our email newsletter or join our Facebook community for more information and updates on topics that affect you or your loved ones.  

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