How much substance abuse is actually.......

[ricco561]

the result of untreated mental illness?


So I just finished my rotation in Emergency Room Psychiatry, and I've been wondering about this. It kinda turns out to be a chicken and the egg question.

1. Are people with undiagnosed and untreated mental illness self
medicating with illicit drugs?

2. How many people had no mental illness until after using
certain illicit drugs?


It's hard to say which came first. Doesn't really matter though, as they treatment will be the same for either.

I don't know if you know who Father Martin is, but he quotes a statistic that says the percentage of people with mental health issues is the same for alcoholics as non-alcoholics.
I don’t know if that is anecdotal or proven.
I suspect (my own anecdotal evidence) is that more people with drug problems also have MH problems. Whether it’s to self-medicate or to escape.

 

[ortiz34]

drugs are bad

mmmmmm kay?

 

[chris302001]

I dont know guys
life can be rough and people can really hurt others
Sometimes Drugs offer an escape.......

thats why I dont judge users

I do Judge someone like a dad or mom that drops the ball when they have a family though
thats evil whether or not it is a mental issue or not

Off topic, but what is better:

A family that gets divorced with children,

or a family that stays together "for the children" despite unhappiness leading to the children developing a difficulty in breaking up or leaving bad relationships?

 

[puddlemonkey]

drugs are bad

mmmmmm kay?

Quitter