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.

Tramadol Addiction: Signs and Treatment Options • The Willough at Naples Behavioral Hospital

Tramadol is a prescription narcotic opioid used for managing pain that is often taken daily. Although tramadol can be taken safely, that doesn’t eliminate the risk of developing a tramadol addiction. Many people associate addiction with illicit drugs. However, prolonged or improper usage of controlled substances can also lead to addiction that requires professional help to overcome. If your tramadol usage is negatively impacting your physical and mental health and other aspects of your life, help is available at The Willough at Naples.

Table of Contents

What Is Tramadol?

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid, and like most pain relievers, comes in the form of a tablet or capsule. It’s made from a combination of opioid medication and monoamine reuptake inhibitors (MRI). This means that the drug affects the opioid receptors in the brain in addition to inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin to produce pain relief without the depressant effects of other opioids. In this way, it acts as a stimulant and can cause users to experience bursts of energy and euphoria after taking higher doses, which is a common cause of tramadol addiction.

Moreover, the structure of tramadol is similar to that of morphine, but it’s only about one-tenth as potent. Although doses tend to start at a low level, they are commonly increased or used in combination with other pain relievers to treat severe or chronic pain. However, increasing your dosage or mixing medications without the guidance of your doctor can lead to potentially dangerous side effects such as tramadol addiction or tramadol interactions.

Signs of Tramadol Addiction

Tramadol is classified as a schedule IV drug, which means it has a low potential for abuse and a low risk of dependence. Due to this classification and its low potency in comparison to other painkillers, many people believe that their risk for addiction is so low they don’t have to worry about it. However, this misconception contributes to the number of people who develop a tramadol addiction without even realizing it. All opioids have highly addictive properties, which can be dangerous for those already at a high risk of drug abuse and addiction.

Signs you may have a tramadol addiction include:

Taking more than the amount prescribed
Reporting your medication as lost to get more
Needing refills sooner than prescribed
Doctor shopping
Stealing medication or asking others for their medication
Being unable to control your usage
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
Problems at home, work, or school related to usage
Withdrawing from friends and family to hide the usage
Unsuccessful attempts to stop using
Developing serotonin syndrome

Tramadol Addiction Treatment

Tramadol is a central nervous system depressant, which means it slows down lung and heart function to relieve pain in the body. This also puts users at a high risk of overdose if they take too much. While this makes it effective in treating pain, prolonged use can cause users to become dependent on tramadol, making it nearly impossible to function without it. The habit-forming properties of tramadol increase the chances of addiction and dependence for those with a family or personal history of substance abuse and mental illness. But if you’re already struggling with tramadol addiction, it’s not too late to get help.

Medical Detox

Tramadol addiction often stems from physical dependence on the drug. This occurs when your tolerance for your prescription has increased to a point where your body no longer gets relief from the medication but requires it to function. Dependence encourages misuse because suddenly stopping can cause harmful or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms can make it harder to stop using tramadol and is often the cause of relapse. But these symptoms can be relieved through a variety of methods used in tramadol addiction treatment. One such method includes tapering, which involved medically-assisted treatment. This form of treatment is part of inpatient and outpatient treatment programs as you begin to address your substance use disorder.

Since tramadol is an opioid, the withdrawal symptoms are similar to those experienced by other opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. The symptoms of tramadol withdrawal include:

Anxiety
Mood swings
Insomnia
Nightmares
Nausea and vomiting
Muscle pain
Shivering
Tremors
Tingling sensations
Hallucinations

To safely overcome withdrawal symptoms and rid your body of the substance, medical professionals can guide you through a medical detox. Medical detox provides 24/7 supervision from physicians and mental health professionals as you stop taking tramadol. The process can take anywhere from a couple of days to a week depending on the dosage and duration of your tramadol usage. Above all, starting with detox decreases your risk of relapse and helps you fully commit to tramadol addiction recovery.

Behavioral Therapy

To effectively recover from tramadol addiction, your physical and emotional dependence on it must be addressed. Completing detox and overcoming withdrawal symptoms is the first step toward recovery. However, you may continue to crave the effects of the drug despite the harmful impact it had on your well-being. But through therapy and other addiction treatment programs, you will learn to cope with cravings and avoid triggering situations to continue recovery.

Behavioral therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy teaches you to identify and alter harmful thoughts and behavioral patterns. As a result, you learn how to improve your emotional functioning for an increased quality of life. This can help you overcome the emotional effects of drug abuse and work through the underlying causes of your addiction.

In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, adults seeking to cope with mental health problems alongside their tramadol addiction can do so through the dual diagnosis program. Moreover, the dual diagnosis program consists of a variety of subset treatment programs. All of which address the complex relationship between mental health and addiction.

Additional evidence-based treatment modalities used at The Willough at Naples include:

Medication evaluation and management
Group therapy or support groups
Behavioral health services for family members
Recreational therapy
Relapse prevention planning
Links to community-based services

Your treatment for tramadol addiction will be designed according to your needs and recovery goals. Furthermore, this can include finding alternative ways to treat the chronic pain that contributed to your addiction.

Where to Get Help for Tramadol Addiction

If you are seeking help to overcome your tramadol addiction, The Willough at Naples can provide the support you need. We offer a variety of programs and treatment modalities to meet the unique needs of every patient. The safe and supportive environment of our recovery center will help you begin your healing journey.

To learn more about our tramadol addiction treatment programs, call our admissions team at (239) 688-3063. You can also submit a confidential contact form online. They will determine the best treatment approach according to your needs. Our staff can help you overcome your addiction and find alternatives to manage your pain one day at a time.