Mental Illness Linked Directly to Higher Substance Abuse Rates
Malibu, CA (PRWEB) January 20, 2014 -- Individuals diagnosed with severe mental disorders exhibit a diminished capacity for resisting historically addictive substances, according to a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) published in the JAMA Psychiatry on January 3rd.
The study examined more than 9,000 people previously diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder and more than 10,000 control participants, chosen based on geographic location.
Compared to the control group, those diagnosed with mental disorders were approximately four times more likely to show alcohol dependence, three and a half times more likely to use marijuana on a regular basis, and five times more likely to smoke cigarettes every day.
The findings shows that previously reported rates of substance abuse among individuals with severe psychosis may be underreported. Protective demographic factors, like belonging to a certain ethic group or gender, did not exist in participants with severe mental illness.
“At Passages, we’ve found that individuals dealing with a chemical imbalance are more likely to become dependent on drugs or alcohol,” said Pax Prentiss, CEO of Passages Addiction Treatment Centers. “Our treatment team does a great job at helping people heal these issues and return to their daily lives without the need for drugs or alcohol.”
Passages Malibu established an addiction treatment philosophy based on the tendency for people to self-medicate using drugs, alcohol, or prescription medication if they:
1. Are dealing with a chemical imbalance.
2. Have events from their past they have not reconciled.
3. Are undergoing conditions they cannot cope with.
4. Hold beliefs that are not true.
At Passages Malibu - Addiction Ends Here™
About Passages Malibu & Passages Ventura:
Father and son team Chris and Pax Prentiss founded Passages Malibu in 2001. Its second location, Passages Ventura, first opened its doors in 2009. The two alcohol & drug abuse treatment centers offer an alternative to the 12 step/AA model of addiction treatment by utilizing a holistic program that focuses on the underlying issues of substance dependency, rather than attributing addiction to an incurable disease.
Both Passages Malibu and Passages Ventura accept insurance and each have earned the coveted Joint Commission (JCAHO) accreditation, which has only been given to 6% of the nation’s behavioral health treatment programs.
Passages Malibu was named the #1 treatment center in the world by Healthcare Global, one of the "Most Luxurious Places to Dry Out" by Forbes magazine, and the Huffington Post recently acknowledged Passages as a center that “caters to a high-end crowd, with many CEOs, entrepreneurs and high-powered professionals among its clients.”
The co-founders are also authors of an acclaimed series of addiction treatment books, including their groundbreaking, flagship title, The Alcoholism & Addiction Cure.
For general inquiries about treatment, contact: 866-233-1753.
For media inquiries, contact:
press(at)passagesmalibu(dot)com
Marketing Department, Passages Addiction Treatment Center, http://www.passagesmalibu.com, +1 (855) 878-8901, [email protected]
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