Many people who begin abusing this type of drug have a mental health disorder. They started off taking the medication for pain or by using recreationally. Then, they see how the drug seems to treat the symptoms of their condition. They feel normal again. Or, in some cases, they feel like a better version of themselves.
What people fail to realize is that the drug will only work for a short period. As the body develops a tolerance to it, they will need to use more to keep masking their symptoms.
We can see an example of this situation in someone who has severe anxiety. Their anxiety may be so bad that they avoid social events and group activities. When they take an opiate, it helps them relax, so they can have a good time. Because it appears to work, they keep taking it whenever they face social situations.
Many mental health conditions can occur at the same time as an addiction. Some of these conditions include the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
This is just a short list, but any mental condition can become more complicated with the addition of an addictive drug. The drugs cause neurochemical changes that exacerbate the mental health issue.
A unique characteristic of opiates is the fact that a person can develop a mental health disorder from abusing this type of drug. They may never have experienced severe anxiety or depression until they started abusing the drug. Because opioids alter the chemistry of the brain, they can cause mental health problems to develop.
Regardless of how the mental health condition developed, a dual diagnosis is a serious problem that requires special treatment. If you treat the addiction alone, the likelihood of relapse is quite high. However, you can find drug rehab centers that specialize in co-occurring disorders. Once you get the right treatment, you can begin to enjoy life again while managing both conditions in the correct way.