50 per cent of alcoholics and drug addicts are mentally ill. What do you think is he?

Question

"Revealed: 50 per cent of alcoholics and drug addicts are mentally ill." What about ex-alcoholics. What are the chances for them?

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article1819665.ece

Answer 1

I think it's higher than 50%

Answer 2

I was diagnosed with depression BEFORE I started drinking. Psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors, as well as family and friends ALL told me that my depression stemmed from my drinking, and that I needed AA. The prevailing wisdom until the late 90s was that a person must be sober long before being evaluated for mental/emotional illness. It continues to be the thought of many, if not most in the recovery field.

AA tells you that alcohol is the root of ALL your problems and that if you find God and quit drinking, all your problems will go away. There is a large, very vocal anti-medication, anti-therapy faction in the rooms. Many people with mental health issues get sober and are convinced that there is nothing else wrong with them. If something seems awry, they try remedying it by working the program harder.

95% of those who walk into AA for the first time won't be there in one year (AA's Triennial Report). I believe the mentally healthy people stay only long enough to take what they need and leave.

I bounced in and out of AA for almost 20 years, always ending up suicidal after a few months. Everyone told me I was "on the pity pot" and needed to work a better program. This kind of thinking damn near killed me.

I finally was able to find decent mental health help in 2001 and have been sober because of it. Since then, I've worked as a peer advocate for the dually diagnosed. I do NOT suggest AA/NA for people I see.

Kathleen Sciacca and others in the mental health field realized that people with mental health and substance abuse issues did not fare well in traditional 12step groups and develop other methods tailored to their needs.

ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) programs have become widely available throughout the US, Great Britain, Canada. To find out if ACT is available in your area (in the US), go to:
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=act-ta_center&template=/contentmanagement/contentdisplay.cfm&contentID=10650
Your local NAMI office should also be able to tell you what's available in your area:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Your_Local_NAMI&Template=/CustomSource/AffiliateFinder.cfm

Answer 3

I would agree that there can be imbalances that alcohol and / or drugs my help temporarily correct. Having been on Wellbutrin and experemented with self medicating myself, I can say that alcohol can have a similiar effect as wellbutrin, but never as long lasting and with the intoxication as a side effect. The sad thing is that alcohol is usually more social acceptable and definitely less costly than proper medicines, which only really makes matters worse.

Answer 4

alcohol is a drug. those people have chemical imbalances that need to be corrected and alcohol may do it for them, which is why they become addicted. unfortunately, the side effects of long term alcohol use is not pretty. once they get the proper medication, and it starts to work, they have a chance of staying away from drink. but they are self medicating.

of course, the effects of mental illness can be disastrous. but in most cases, it is a chemical thing, lilke being diabetic or epileptic. in that sense, they may still have that imbalance even if they stop drinking.

Answer 5

He least confusing ran in opposition to Bush in the primaries in 2000. now not the equivalent element as strolling head to head in the direction of a guy from the alternative occasion. In 2004 John Kerry made a important deal approximately being a war hero and persons definitely offered that line. So McCain being a extra valuable hero used it this time. in spite of the fact that it truthfully did not look to make any distinction. Obama gained, a guy who not purely did not serve, he by making use of no skill had to stand the draft and it style of feels he in no way even fired a gun. i think he will do a superb Neville Chamberlain impersonation.

Answer 6

Ex-alcoholics are a non-entity. Anyone who abuses drugs and alcohol is out of their mind 100%.
Think about it...
What person in their right mind would go to a bar and spend ALL of their money, take a stranger to their home, drive under the influence-risking their own life as well as someone elses, and have unprotected sex with them? THEN, wake up and do it all over again.
To me, that is insanity!

Answer 7

Drugs & booze can definitely produce mental illness when taken in huge quantities! I know ex users & they are great people! They decided to change their lifestyles which in turn changed their lives for the better!

Answer 8

Don't believe everything you read kid! Alcoholics are from every walk of life, and most alcoholics carry on with a normal job, and career, so it is very doubtful they have any serious mental illness.

Answer 9

And 38% of registered voters are republicans. So?