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.

Honoring Minority Mental Health Month in Florida • The Willough at Naples Behavioral Hospital

The Willough at Naples is a Florida mental health treatment facility that recognizes, honors, and celebrates minority mental health month. Our mission is to create greater access to mental health resources that Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities and other underrepresented groups can lean on in times of need. That said, let’s dive into the history of minority mental health month, including its goals, its purpose, and the steps we can all take moving forward to raise awareness for this issue.

Table of Contents

What Is Minority Mental Health Month?

Minority mental health month is acknowledged for the entirety of July. Minority mental health month officially began in 2008 and has been celebrated annually since then. Also known as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, named after the activist and mental health advocate, this month-long event works to raise awareness on the lived experiences of minority groups in the United States—specifically when it comes to their mental health.

Some examples of mental health symptoms that can be significantly disruptive include:

Persistent anxiety
Feelings of hopelessness
Depression
Alcohol or drug use
Withdrawal symptoms
Physical health concerns

Studies show that minority groups have a disadvantage when it comes to getting care for mental health. Surprisingly, less than a third of Black Americans were able to get the same access to care as white individuals in recent years. This has only gotten worse as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are several reasons behind this, including:

Lack of funding in neighborhoods with underrepresented populations
Stigma surrounding mental health in BIPOC communities
Misrepresentation of mental health challenges as criminal behavior
Criminal charges for mental health and addiction challenges

This list is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the challenges that minority groups can face in accessing mental health assistance. As a result, many people in these communities, including youth of color, aren’t able to get the help that they need.

Thus, minority mental health month aims to raise awareness so that there can be better access to the necessary care. This would include services like inpatient programming, safe substance abuse detox, dual diagnosis treatment, and more.

Why Is Minority Mental Health Month So Important?

Clearly, there are countless barriers to mental health care for people of color in the United States. And only by recognizing these disparities can we take steps to make sure that everyone has access to the mental health support that they need. This minority mental health month, it’s important to share information on how racial and ethnic minorities do not have the same opportunities for mental health care as their white counterparts.

But more than just information spreading, there needs to be progress. Creating change is one of the biggest goals for minority mental health month. This type of change includes creating more access to mental health facilities throughout the country for BIPOC communities.

The consequences of not getting the right treatment can not only be detrimental to the social, economic, and personal growth of individuals of color but it can also be deadly. Some surprising statistics about BIPOC communities and mental health include:

Individuals who identify with two or more races were more likely to need inpatient treatment services for mental health.
Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiians, and American Indian individuals are most at risk for developing a substance use disorder, especially alcoholism.
Suicide rates for Black people drastically increased in recent years.
Individuals of color stated that cost of care and being unsure of the benefits of treatment were among the top reasons for not seeking out mental health assistance.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought extra challenges for underrepresented groups to get access to mental health care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

On top of this, individuals of color are more likely to be expelled in school settings or even criminally punished for lashing out during mental health crises. Oftentimes, this causes much more harm than good. Without the right treatment, the symptoms, and therefore the harmful behaviors, will only continue.

Moreover, research indicates that minority groups are more likely to experience long-term effects associated with mental health disorders. Things like longer periods of depression, reoccurring symptoms, and lasting health concerns are all common experiences that underrepresented individuals have.

All of this goes to show that raising awareness during minority mental health month is needed—but it should go beyond that as well. The mental health crisis in BIPOC communities cannot continue, especially when the right type of mental health treatment is proven to be effective in improving people’s quality of life overall.

Providing Psychiatric Care for Everyone in Florida

It is our goal at The Willough at Naples to offer top-quality care for all people who are struggling with mental health conditions. We understand that minority mental health month is just one moment out of many more that are needed to shine a light on how providing more accessible mental health resources can make a life-changing difference for BIPOC communities. Some of the resources that we are proud to provide include:

Psychological evaluations
Cognitive screenings
Medication management
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Individual counseling sessions
Group work
Recreational therapy
Discharge planning

Now more than ever, it is essential that we work toward raising awareness on the impact of mental health. Unfortunately, experiencing mental health symptoms can leave people feeling isolated, especially for individuals in minority groups who aren’t sure how, where, or when to seek out treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with the symptoms of a mental health condition such as depression, addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or others, rest assured that help is out there.

Reach out to our admissions counselors at (239) 688-3063 for more information on the treatment opportunities at The Willough at Naples. Alternatively, you can submit a confidential contact form with your inquiries. However you choose to get in touch, know that you’re taking a step in the right direction. Together and with a fight for awareness, we can help you find long-lasting peace within recovery.

Honoring Minority Mental Health Month in Florida

What Is Minority Mental Health Month?

Why Is Minority Mental Health Month So Important?

Providing Psychiatric Care for Everyone in Florida

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