Although according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety may lead to drug addiction, it does not ALWAYS lead to addiction. There is a correlation between anxiety disorders and substance use but anxiety does not always result in substance abuse.
Anxiety Medications
Most medications given for anxiety even in childhood are benzodiazepines. These medications are extremely addictive. Some doctors suggest that giving these medications too early help children to develop a pattern of addiction. The medication may actually reinforce the addiction rather than help get the symptoms under control. This reinforcement can lead to addictive personalities later on.
This is why so many doctors are moving towards other forms of anxiety treatment in adolescents and children. It is important to compare the benefit of the medication to the possibility of damage later on.
Self-Medicating for the Anxiety
Some anxiety medications have addictive properties.
Many people start using drugs because they are self medicating. The drugs stop the anxiety and without noticing children and adolescents become addicted. In some cases of severe anxiety, you will do anything to stop feeling anxious. Once they find a drug or behavior that limits the feelings of anxiety, they will use it.
Childhood Anxiety Treatment and Substance Abuse Later
According to Medscape’s article titled, Anxiety and Substance Abuse, these disorders often occur together. As mentioned earlier, medicating for anxiety in childhood can lead to anxiety disorders and substance abuse disorders later on. Some speculate that using anxiety medication early on causes anxiety and substance use later in life. In adolescence, illegal drugs become more available than in childhood. This availability and the possibility of untreated anxiety can lead to an increased likelihood of substance abuse.
Treating Anxiety Disorder and Substance Abuse
Since the co-occurrence of these disorders is so high, they are often treated together. There are three basic types of treatment for both severe anxiety disorder and substance abuse. These are:
inpatient treatment – during this residential treatment users receive drug treatment, counseling, and medication management. Many people with anxiety will continue to need an anxiety medication even after the drug addiction is treated. This treatment usually starts with inpatient care.
outpatient treatment – outpatient treatment consists of daily, weekly, or monthly visits to a rehab center. During this treatment, a user receives detox services, medication management, and counseling.
combination treatment – this type of treatment starts with inpatient treatment and then when they are ready it moves to outpatient treatment where the user receives counseling and other services.
These treatments address both the childhood anxiety, the cause of childhood anxiety, the substance abuse. Childhood trauma can lead to both anxiety and substance abuse.
The relationship between childhood anxiety and later substance abuse is correlational but not necessarily causational. Although many people, who suffer from childhood anxiety, do end up with a substance abuse problem later on, many do not. Each person is different. If you suffered from childhood anxiety it is a good idea to be aware of your substance use. For more information on childhood anxiety and substance abuse call us at 888-646-0635Who Answers?.
The effects of addiction on the brain and mind create an obsessive mindset that “naturally” leads to criminal type behaviors when drug supplies are lacking. Trends on drug abuse and crime reflect this pattern of behavior and account for a good percentage of the prison population in general. It’s no secret how addiction takes over….
For someone battling an alcohol abuse problem, the decision to enter alcohol rehab doesn’t come easily. Alcohol’s effects on the brain warp a person’s logic and reasoning abilities, so troubling circumstances or the negative consequences from drinking have likely brought about a change of heart in a big way. With the holidays well under way,….
If you are thinking about going into drug rehab to seek help for addiction, you are probably wondering what the first days or weeks of drug rehab will be like. What can you expect to see, do or feel during the first month of drug rehab and how will it affect your overall recovery from….
One of the best things you can do to help prepare yourself to become a patient at a rehab clinic is to tour the facility first. This will allow you to find out if the center will be beneficial to your recovery and if you will be comfortable receiving treatment there. But it is important….
As disparate as cocaine and alcohol may be in effect, cocaine and alcohol seemingly balance each other out, with one substance smoothing out the effects of the other. While the combined “high” produced by these two substances may feel pleasant, this combination can be deadly when ingested on a frequent basis. The holidays offer a….
When you hear the phrase “free long term drug rehab” what comes to mind? Anybody with an addiction wants to overcome their problem as soon as possible. At the same time, these people realize the importance of getting the right help, now and in the future, to ensure a better life. There is a lot….
Traumatic experiences trigger protective responses throughout the body, causing a surge of chemicals to flood the brain. Depending on a person’s physiological make-up, these effects can have a lasting impression on his or her mental and emotional well-being. Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD develops out of these conditions. According to the University of Colorado at….
During difficult economic times people often find themselves trying to find an effective drug or alcohol treatment center but simply cannot afford it. If you or a loved one has an alcohol or drug problem and wish to receive help there are several options that cost little or nothing at all. Many private residential facilities….
Alcohol rehab insurance is when a person’s health insurance covers some of or all of the expenses of alcohol rehab. A person may need help overcoming their alcohol addiction, and since alcohol detox can be dangerous, a person may need medical resources to help them detox. Many health insurance companies will help cover the cost….
Overall, it’s up to the addict to decide on when or if he or she will make a commitment to his or her own recovery but there are some steps that loved ones can do to encourage the process. One of the most important steps that family members and friends of the addict should take is to….
Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser that includes Right Path Rehab.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.