News / Health & Wellness
Bipolar’s Addiction Risk
Bipolar sufferers are aware of the emotional issues it causes, but they also need to know it puts them at higher risk of substance abuse.
Co-occurring Disorders
Treatment for co-occurring disorders in drug and alcohol treatment programs is becoming more common as the experts understand that often mental disorders like bipolar, depression, anxiety and PTSD go hand-in-hand with addiction. Often, it stems from individuals trying to self-medicate their mental health issues using substances like cocaine, methamphetamines, marijuana or opioids. In the case of bipolar this can be particularly dangerous as it makes the symptoms worse, not better.
Self-medicating with Bipolar Disorder
When an individual begins self-medicating, they are less likely to take their prescribed medications. The alcohol and illegal drugs also interact with those prescription medications, making them ineffective or creating unwanted new problems from the drug interactions. In the end, the alcohol and drugs just make an individual’s bipolar worse, leading to more frequent mood swings, increased and lengthier hospital stays and higher rates of suicide or attempted suicide.
Treating Bipolar Disorder at La Paloma
Treatment programs like La Paloma specialize in treating alcohol and substance abuse along with disorders like bipolar. By treating both problems together, we see greater success during treatment and better results for long-term recover. If you or someone you love is battling an addiction, call us at our toll-free. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.
