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.

How to Help an Alcoholic Who Doesn’t Want Help • The Willough at Naples Behavioral Hospital

If you have a loved one with an alcohol or drug addiction, you probably know that it hurts to watch someone you care about succumb to harmful habits. This is especially true when they don’t want to acknowledge the problem, as it can leave you wondering how to help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help. Fortunately, there are ways you can encourage them to get treatment.

It’s more common than you may think for someone to forego addiction treatment. In fact, less than 20 percent of individuals who meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD) seek help for their symptoms. This means that of the 14.5 million adults currently living with an AUD in the United States, over 11 million of them are not receiving professional support.

In other words, over 11 million people are living with habits that will slowly erode their physical and mental health as well as the relationships they have with other people. If you are one of those people and you want to help your loved one overcome addiction, there are a few angles you can take to work toward that goal.

Table of Contents

Identifying Alcohol Addiction

Some individuals worry that they might be overreacting when their loved one doesn’t share their concerns. However, there are several blatant red flags to look for to help you determine whether or not they really have a drinking problem.

So, before discussing more about how to help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help, consider the following signs of addiction:

Spending most time drinking, buying, or recovering from alcohol
Having to drink larger amounts to achieve the same level of intoxication
Participating in dangerous activities after drinking (such as driving, swimming, or unsafe sex)
Losing interest in previous hobbies or activities
Continuing to drink despite the problems it causes
Drinking more or for longer than intended
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms as alcohol’s effects wear off
Struggling to complete tasks or fulfill responsibilities

If your loved one exhibits at least two of the above symptoms, they most likely meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. As such, you have a basis for wanting to help them stop drinking, even if they don’t seem interested in receiving that support.

How to Help an Alcoholic Who Doesn’t Want Help

If you believe your loved one has a substance abuse problem, but they don’t agree, what do you do next? It’s commonly thought that acknowledging a problem is the first step to overcoming it, so when someone can’t see the harm their drinking habits cause, it becomes difficult to convince them to seek help.

Unfortunately, acknowledging someone else’s drinking problem on their behalf will rarely be enough to motivate them to get treatment. However, you can take steps to try and show them that they need professional support by using evidence and empathy. Below are a few tips to keep in mind as you determine how to help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help.

Educate Yourself on Alcohol Use Disorder

Addiction can be a challenging concept to grasp for those who do not experience it firsthand. For this reason, it’s important to research alcohol use disorder and develop a deeper understanding of its potential causes, symptoms, and long-term effects.

In some cases, learning more about substance abuse may also involve identifying your role in your loved one’s addiction. For instance, some people unknowingly exhibit enabling behaviors, such as providing the addicted individual with money or taking on some of their responsibilities.

At the time, it may feel like doing them a favor, but these behaviors can contribute to addiction and make it more difficult for someone to acknowledge their need for treatment. In turn, people in your position are left wondering how to help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help.

Offer Empathy and Support

You may grow frustrated with your loved one if they refuse treatment for a long period of time. However, it’s important to remain empathetic and open to learning more about their situation. For example, consider that as many as half of individuals with an alcohol use disorder also live with an additional mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety.

With that being the case, your loved one may be facing other trials in their life and using alcohol as a means to disguise those issues. Uncovering those first may be the best starting point for how to help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help.

In any case, it is often best to acknowledge their difficulties with compassion and clear support. Using empathy can keep conversations calm and civil, making it easier for both of you to express your feelings in a healthy manner.

Set Healthy Boundaries

One of the best actions you can take for yourself as well as your loved one involves setting healthy boundaries. As you try new methods to learn how to help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help, they will likely continue to misuse alcohol in the meantime. You may be able to identify certain behaviors that you no longer wish to tolerate.

For example, when you set healthy boundaries, you may make statements like:

Don’t drink in the house or in front of me.
Don’t invite your drinking friends over to the house.
I will not fund your drinking habits any longer.
I will not lie for you if someone asks about you.
If you are arrested, I will not bail you out.

Furthermore, as you work on boundaries, remain cautious of ultimatums. There is a difference between setting healthy boundaries and using threatening language to coerce someone into action. Generally, ultimatums are not effective when used on people with addictions. Consider framing your concerns in a different manner instead.

Stage an Intervention

Sometimes, scattered conversations and firm boundaries aren’t enough to motivate someone to seek professional treatment. Even so, with their own mental and physical well-being at stake, you shouldn’t give up on figuring out how to help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help.

If the above steps haven’t worked, it may be time to make an organized effort with others who are close to the addicted person. If you aren’t sure who to contact, an intervention specialist can help you decide who to involve in the meeting.

Most successful interventions involve the participants preparing statements ahead of time. These statements usually consist of their concerns, examples of how someone’s drinking habits have affected them, and their hopes for the addicted individual to seek help. It is not a place to express severe anger or frustration, but simply an honest organization of one’s feelings.

What Not to Do to Help an Alcoholic Who Doesn’t Want Help

There are many approaches you can take regarding how to help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help. However, there are also angles you should try to avoid when speaking with an addicted person. Overly aggressive confrontations may only serve to push them farther away and deeper into their substance abuse.

Specifically, when trying to encourage someone to seek addiction treatment, don’t:

Use guilt or judgment. When an addict refuses treatment, avoid intensely arguing with them or resorting to shame. It may harm your relationship further, worsen the issue, and make it harder to continue the conversation later.
Make accusations. Avoid using “you” statements, as they may make the addicted person feel targeted or isolated. Instead, stick with “I” statements and focus on how their habits negatively impact those around them.
Force them into treatment. Individuals who do not actively want to get better are unlikely to benefit from treatment. They need to make their own choice to recover in order to get the most out of it.
Hide the problem. Don’t go out of your way to cover up someone’s substance abuse. If you portray the image of a perfect household to other people, the addicted individual may take that as a sign that they don’t need to make changes.
Blame yourself. Even if you suspect you have enabled certain behaviors in the past, accountability is not the same as blame. Furthermore, it is rarely helpful to direct the focus toward yourself.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Naples, Florida

Hopefully, you now understand more about how to help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help. If the above tips help you successfully motivate your loved one to seek addiction treatment, consider directing them toward The Willough at Naples.

We are an addiction treatment center that provides a full continuum of care for individuals looking to stop drinking alcohol. Unlike some other treatment facilities, we step away from the harsh clinical setting and promote recovery through a gentle, uplifting atmosphere. Our recovery approach has benefited addicted individuals and their family members for over 30 years.

Learn More About How to Help an Alcoholic Who Doesn’t Want Help

Navigating life with an addicted person who doesn’t want help presents many challenges. As you persevere through them, remember to look out for yourself as well. In addition to addiction treatment, The Willough at Naples offers psychiatric services for adults battling conditions like depression. If you ever feel overwhelmed by the obstacles in your life, we can help you, too.

For more information about how to help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help, feel free to contact us today. You can reach a representative by calling (239) 688-3063 or submitting a confidential contact form online. Our team can offer additional advice on how to stage an intervention and encourage your loved one to seek treatment.

How to Help an Alcoholic Who Doesn’t Want Help

Identifying Alcohol Addiction

How to Help an Alcoholic Who Doesn’t Want Help

Educate Yourself on Alcohol Use Disorder

Offer Empathy and Support

Set Healthy Boundaries

Stage an Intervention

What Not to Do to Help an Alcoholic Who Doesn’t Want Help

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Naples, Florida

Learn More About How to Help an Alcoholic Who Doesn’t Want Help

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