Rehab treatment 'important' for narcotics addicts with mental illness

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by Change | 6 Feb 2009

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Rehab clinic treatment is more important for people with mental illnesses suffering from narcotics addiction, research suggests.

A new study shows drugs are more likely to damage people who are already suffering with mental illnesses, increasing the importance of receiving rehabilitation treatment.

Dr Stephane Potvin, from the Universite de Montreal-affiliated Centre de Recherche Fernad-Seguin, claims narcotic use among these individuals can produce an irreversible effect.

He claims between a third and half of psychiatric patients also experience some form of drug addiction problem.

Individuals with schizophrenia are also likely to experience a stronger reaction to certain forms of substance abuse, he asserts.

Dr Potvin says: "They become dependant more quickly and they tend to abuse drugs more easily. It is evident that drug use can worsen the symptoms of mental disease."

In addition, he claims users of narcotic substances are more likely to manifest any underlying mental health disorders than people who do not engage in these behaviours.

A report released by the National Institute on drug abuse recently identified a need for further research to be conducted into the relationship between dependency issues and secondary psychiatric conditions.

Its Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses review suggests people with mood or anxiety disorders are twice as likely to develop a drug addiction.

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