Where can I find help for dual diagnosis?

Help for dual diagnosis can be found at specialized treatment centers that offer integrated care for mental health and substance use disorders. It's important to look for programs that specifically mention dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder treatment. Healthcare providers, mental health professionals, or local health departments can also provide referrals to suitable programs.

Is it common for individuals with dual diagnosis to relapse?

Relapse can be a part of the recovery process for some individuals with dual diagnosis, given the complex nature of these conditions. However, integrated treatment plans are designed to reduce the likelihood of relapse by addressing the root causes of both disorders and equipping individuals with strategies to manage triggers and cravings.

How can families support a loved one with dual diagnosis?

Families can support a loved one by encouraging them to seek and continue treatment, offering emotional support, educating themselves about dual diagnosis, and possibly participating in family therapy sessions. It's also important for families to set healthy boundaries and seek support for themselves through resources like support groups.

Are there any specific medications used in treating dual diagnosis?

Yes, specific medications may be used to treat the mental health aspect of dual diagnosis, such as atypical antipsychotics for schizophrenia or mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder. The choice of medication depends on the individual's specific mental health condition and substance use issues. Medications may also be used to manage withdrawal symptoms or cravings associated with substance use disorder.

What are the challenges in treating dual diagnosis?

Treating dual diagnosis presents several challenges, including the complexity of diagnosing and managing two co-occurring disorders, overcoming stigma, ensuring access to integrated treatment programs, and addressing the individual's holistic needs, including emotional and socioeconomic factors.

How does inpatient treatment benefit individuals with dual diagnosis?

Inpatient treatment offers a structured and supportive environment that is crucial for individuals with dual diagnosis. This setting provides constant care, removes individuals from potentially triggering environments, and allows for the intensive treatment needed to address both disorders simultaneously. It also facilitates the development of coping strategies and life skills essential for long-term recovery.

Can dual diagnosis be cured?

While “cure” may not be the term used in the context of dual diagnosis, effective management and recovery are possible. With appropriate integrated treatment, individuals can achieve significant improvement in both their mental health and substance use issues, leading to a better quality of life.

What does integrated treatment for dual diagnosis involve?

Integrated treatment for dual diagnosis typically involves a combination of pharmacotherapy (medication), psychosocial treatments (like cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and group counseling), and personalized care plans that are tailored to the individual's specific needs. This approach may also include support for related issues, such as housing, employment, and relationship counseling.

Why is integrated treatment recommended for dual diagnosis?

Integrated treatment is recommended because it addresses both the mental health disorder and the substance use disorder together, rather than treating them separately. Research has shown that this approach leads to better outcomes, as it tackles the complex interplay between the disorders, offering a more comprehensive and effective form of care.

What is dual diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis refers to the co-occurrence of a substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental health disorder in an individual. It means that someone is struggling with both mental health issues, like anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia, and substance abuse, such as alcohol or drug addiction, simultaneously.

WHAT SERVICES ARE INCLUDED IN MY HOSPITAL BILL?

If you are viewing estimates provided on this website, the pricing includes estimated room and board, supplies, nursing care, equipment use, nutritional services, and any services handled by the staff of the hospital within the walls of the hospital. It does not include services from outside providers such as lab or doctors fees.

WHAT IS PRICING TRANSPARENCY?

“Pricing Transparency” is the term used to describe initiatives in the healthcare industry to provide meaningful pricing information to consumers. The healthcare industry is often complex and difficult for consumers to navigate. Price transparency is a means of providing consumers price information on common services. Our hospital is committed to presenting pricing information on its website in a way that will be easy for the consumer to access and understand, as well as providing other useful information about financial assistance available, definitions of key terminology, and key financial policies.

Are There Any Anxiety Medications Safe with Alcohol?

It is generally not safe to mix alcohol with anxiety medications. Alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness of the medication and increase the risk of side effects. It's crucial to consult with a healthcare provider for guidance on this matter.

Can Alcohol Cause Anxiety Disorders?

While alcohol itself may not directly cause anxiety disorders, its misuse can lead to the development or exacerbation of anxiety symptoms. Those with pre-existing anxiety may find their condition worsens with alcohol use.

How Do I Stop Anxiety after Drinking Alcohol?

To manage anxiety after drinking, it's important to reduce or stop alcohol consumption, practice healthy coping skills, and seek professional treatment if needed, especially for those with a co-occurring disorder.

Is Hangxiety a Real Thing?

Yes, “hangxiety” is a real phenomenon. It's a colloquial term combining “hangover” and “anxiety,” describing the feelings of anxiety and panic experienced during a hangover, often due to depleted GABA levels in the brain.

Does Alcohol Cause Anxiety?

Long-term alcohol use can lead to worsening anxiety. For instance, the experience of “hangxiety” after heavy drinking exemplifies how alcohol can induce anxiety-like symptoms.

Does Alcohol Make Anxiety Worse?

Yes, alcohol can worsen anxiety. Over time, dependence on alcohol to relax can lead to an increased risk of developing alcoholism. Furthermore, reliance on alcohol for managing anxiety can amplify anxiety symptoms when sober, potentially leading to co-occurring disorders.

Does Alcohol Reduce Anxiety?

While alcohol initially reduces stress and makes one feel at ease, it's only a short-term effect. In the long term, it does not effectively reduce anxiety and can actually exacerbate anxiety symptoms.

Does Alcohol Help Anxiety?

Temporarily, alcohol can create feelings of relaxation and sociability due to its depressant effects on the central nervous system. However, it's not a reliable or healthy method for managing anxiety.

Do Track Marks Go Away?

Some track marks can heal and become barely noticeable, while others, particularly in areas of thin skin or repeated puncture, may lead to irreversible skin and vein damage, resulting in permanent scars or marks.

How to Get Rid of Track Marks?

Healing from track marks involves stopping IV drug use and adopting practices like using clean needles, maintaining wound cleanliness, wearing compression socks, and improving circulation through exercise. Medical evaluation and potentially plastic or vascular surgery can also reduce the appearance of damaged veins.

Are There Dangers of Intravenous Drug Use?

Beyond track marks, IV drug use poses significant health risks, including vein damage, infections, collapsed veins, bloodstream infections affecting major organs, and skin infections like abscesses.

How Long Do Track Marks Last?

The duration of track marks varies. Some may heal and leave minimal scarring, but others, especially in areas with thin skin like hands and feet, can cause permanent visible marks and scar tissue.

Where Can Track Marks Appear?

Commonly found on the forearms, track marks can appear anywhere on the body. IV drug users often use non-dominant arms for injection, but they may also use other areas like hands, feet, neck, and groin, especially when trying to conceal their drug use.

What Do Track Marks Look Like?

Fresh track marks appear as unhealed puncture wounds. Over time and with repeated use, they can darken the skin's pigmentation and may also present as bruising, scarring, lesions, and visible vein damage.

What Are Track Marks?

Track marks are the visible signs on the skin resulting from intravenous (IV) drug use. They appear as scars or pinpoint spots, usually due to repeated injections in the same area, causing skin and vein damage.

What does Tusi Lavada mean?

“Tusi lavada” refers to a specific form or variant of the drug tusi, which is the colloquial name for pink cocaine. The term “lavada” in Spanish translates to “washed” in English. In the context of drug terminology, this could imply that the tusi has been processed or purified in some way. However, the exact meaning can vary depending on the local context and the specifics of how the drug is prepared or marketed. It's important to be cautious with such terms, as they can reflect regional slang or specific methods used in the illicit drug trade, and their meanings can differ significantly. Additionally, the composition and safety of such substances are highly unpredictable, contributing to their danger.

“Tusi” or “tuci” is a local term used to refer to pink cocaine, particularly in Colombia. It is a synthetic drug known scientifically as 2C-B. Unlike traditional cocaine, tusi is not derived from the coca plant but is instead a laboratory-made substance. This drug is a combination of pink food coloring, strawberry flavoring, ketamine, caffeine, and MDMA, and its effects are more akin to ecstasy rather than cocaine. Developed in the 1970s by chemist Alexander Shulgin, tusi was initially created for treating erectile dysfunction and boosting libido. However, it was later classified as a Schedule I Controlled substance and taken off the market due to its high potential for abuse and lack of accepted medical use. In the club scene, especially among younger adults, tusi is known for its party-enhancing effects.

What is Pink Cocaine?

Pink cocaine, despite its name, is not a type of cocaine. It is a synthetic drug, classified as phenylethylamine 2C-B, which includes a combination of pink food coloring, strawberry flavoring, ketamine, caffeine, and MDMA. This composition means that its effects more closely resemble those of ecstasy, rather than traditional cocaine. Originally developed in the 1970s by chemist Alexander Shulgin, it was intended for treating erectile dysfunction and enhancing libido, and was sold under names like Performax or Erox until its reclassification as a Schedule I Controlled substance in the United States in 1995. Pink cocaine is popular among teens and young adults in the club scene, and its use can lead to a range of side effects, including hallucinations, euphoria, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and in severe cases, seizures and respiratory depression.

What are Valium overdose symptoms?

Symptoms of a Valium overdose include severe drowsiness, confusion, limp muscles, and slow reflexes. In more serious cases, a person might have trouble breathing, become unconscious, or fall into a coma. If you think someone has overdosed on Valium, it's important to get medical help right away because it can be life-threatening.

What is the Valium antidote?

The antidote for a Valium overdose is a drug called flumazenil. It can quickly reverse the effects of Valium by blocking it from working on the brain. This antidote is usually given in a hospital setting where healthcare providers can closely monitor the patient because it can also cause withdrawal symptoms in people who are dependent on Valium.

How Much Valium Is Too Much?

The amount of Valium that is too much will vary from person to person. Factors like your age, weight, overall health, and whether you've taken it before all play a role. Generally, doctors will prescribe the lowest effective dose to minimize the risk of overdose. Taking more Valium than prescribed, or mixing it with other substances like alcohol, can quickly become dangerous.

Is Valium a Narcotic?

Valium is not considered a narcotic. Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain and dull the senses, and are often opioids like morphine or hydrocodone. Valium, however, is a benzodiazepine and is used mainly to treat anxiety and muscle spasms by calming the nervous system. While not a narcotic, Valium is still a controlled substance because it has the potential for abuse and dependence.

What are benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines are a type of medication that helps to relax the nervous system. They are often used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, and insomnia because they can calm the brain and help with sleep. Common benzodiazepines include drugs like Valium, Xanax, and Ativan. They are effective but need to be used carefully because they can cause dependence and withdrawal if used long-term.

Valium is a medication known by the generic name diazepam. It belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines and is used to treat conditions like anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures. Valium works by calming the brain and nerves, and it is also used to help with alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Can you overdose on Valium?

Yes, it is possible to overdose on Valium. Taking more than the recommended dose, or using it in ways not prescribed by a doctor, can lead to serious health problems. An overdose can slow down your breathing, cause confusion, make you feel sleepy or even fall into a coma. It's important to always take Valium exactly as prescribed to avoid these risks.

Adderall and Alcohol: Should You Combine Them?

Adderall is a Schedule II prescription medication used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Even though Adderall is an effective medication for the conditions mentioned above, it has a high potential for abuse and misuse. For example, many individuals combine Adderall and alcohol or other drugs, which can drastically increase their risk for adverse side effects.

If you’re concerned about your or someone else’s use of Adderall and alcohol, keep reading to find out what you can do to stay safe.

Table of Contents

How Does Adderall Work?

To understand why doctors prescribe Adderall for ADHD, it’s important to first understand a little about the condition. While there are no clear causes of ADHD, it is theorized to be caused by a lack of norepinephrine and domaine. Dopamine is the chemical in your brain responsible for making you feel good, and norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that acts as a chemical messenger that helps send nerve signals across nerve endings to other cells. And due to Adderall’s chemical composition, it can help with deficiencies in both of these chemicals.

Adderall is made up of a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which are central nervous system stimulants. Consequentially, this medication aims to reduce impulsive behavior by increasing levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.

However, as a Schedule II drug, Adderall carries a high risk of abuse. While it can be taken safely by people with ADHD or other medical conditions, mixing Adderall and alcohol can greatly increase one’s risk of developing a substance abuse issue.

Can You Mix Adderall and Alcohol?

Mixing Adderall and alcohol often comes with dangerous consequences, largely due to the conflicting effects of these substances. While Adderall affects your central nervous system by giving it a boost, alcohol is a depressant. This means that instead of voiding each other, they compete against one another. In other words, a person with an Adderall prescription might not feel the effects of alcohol as strongly. As a result, they may binge drink, which can increase their risk of developing an alcohol use disorder.

Mixing a stimulant with a depressant can also come with a host of side effects as the two competing substances affect the body. Specifically, when mixing Adderall and alcohol, the two can cause other serious issues, including:

Tremors
Anxiety
Paranoia
Psychotic episodes
Stroke
Uncontrollable vomiting
Heart arrhythmias
Loss of consciousness

Why Do People Mix Adderall and Alcohol?

There are various reasons some people misuse Adderall and alcohol. But some studies have determined that people aged 18-25 without a legitimate prescription are among the highest abusers. This is theorized to be caused by many young adults using Adderall at the start of college. Moreover, a study of this age group found that approximately 44% of the participants with ADHD met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, suggesting that combining Adderall and alcohol can lead to problems even if the user has a prescription.

Many college-aged adults also use Adderall to pull all-nighters to help them stay up late studying for exams. Likewise, several students claim that taking Adderall helps them focus and concentrate. But concerningly, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health claims 90% of college students who took Adderall without a medical reason also reported binge drinking alcohol. This begs the question: Why do so many people mix Adderall and alcohol?

Because Adderall is a prescription medication that can only be obtained from a doctor, many people think it’s safe and nonaddictive. However, it’s important to know that that isn’t the case. While Adderall can be taken safely and responsibly, it can also easily be misused, especially alongside alcohol. If you or someone you know is abusing Adderall and alcohol, it’s important to be aware of addiction treatment options near you.

Treatment for Adderall and Alcohol Addiction

If you think a loved one has an Adderall and alcohol problem, then it’s a good idea to look into addiction treatment in your area. Breaking an Adderall and alcohol habit can be challenging, but it’s much easier with professional addiction recovery programming.

If you are one of the many people struggling with Adderall and alcohol addiction in Florida, then the first step in recovery is through a medical detoxification program.

Medical Detox for Adderall and Alcohol

The medical detox program at The Willough at Naples puts patients’ physical and emotional well-being first. During medical detox, individuals receive 24/7 care and monitoring to keep them safe and surrounded by support. This type of around-the-clock care enables people to get help with any concerning withdrawal symptoms they might present. In addition, medical detox care helps you to set a strong foundation on which to build the remainder of your recovery.

While here, patients will be surrounded by medical professionals, mental health therapists, and other addiction recovery experts. The detox process can be challenging, but with the right support system, anyone can make it through the early, vulnerable stages of recovery from Adderall and alcohol addiction.

Dual Diagnosis

Just as addiction is not solely about physical chemical dependency, your addiction treatment cannot focus solely on the physical. That’s why our dual diagnosis program focuses on helping address the underlying mental causes of addiction. By treating both mental health issues and addiction, we can provide comprehensive healing following Adderall and alcohol addiction.

But your mental health is unique, and so are our treatment programs. Some of the most common evidence-based therapies we use include:

Cognitive behavioral therapy
Group therapy
Family education
Recreational therapy
Relapse prevention therapy
Discharge services

Through these therapies provided at our residential drug and alcohol rehab, you can develop the coping skills necessary to achieve long-term sobriety after leaving treatment.

Get Help at The Willough at Naples

If you are seeking help to overcome an addiction to Adderall and alcohol, The Willough at Naples provides the support you need. Our addiction treatment center offers various programs to ensure each patient’s unique needs are met. At our safe and non-judgmental recovery center, you will be surrounded by medical professionals who can help you on your recovery journey. To learn how we can help, call our admissions team at 800-722-0100 or submit a confidential contact form online. Trying to recover from polysubstance abuse can be daunting, but it is always easier with professional help.

Why Are Adderall and Alcohol Commonly Abused?