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ANNOUNCEMENTS PATHFINDER Fall/Winter 2008 Spring/Summer 2008 Fall/Winter 2007 Fall/Winter 2006 Spring/Summer 2006 Fall/Winter 2005 Spring/Summer 2005 |
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by Bruce Tapper, Ph.D. One of the complications of recovery from drug addiction is the existence of a "dual diagnosis" where the drug addiction is accompanied by a psychiatric condition such as depression, anxiety, anger, or learning disability. The condition may have existed before the addiction or may have been caused by the influence of drugs upon emotional functioning. Depression is the most common condition to accompany drug addiction.
Many addicts have a depression which has existed for many years but
was untreated and led to a full-blown addiction. Consequently, the
person still has the untreated depression plus the added burden of
the substance abuse. The opposite is often true, where, over time,
the consequences of drug-using behavior-such as the loss of a job or
a significant relationship-can lead to depression. Often, the depression
is not identified until the person has begun or even completed a detox
or primary treatment program. Similarly, someone who has a generalized
anxiety disorder or panic disorder that is not properly diagnosed may
turn to alcohol or other drugs to treat the anxiety symptoms. Again,
the person may become an addict who goes into treatment because of
the drug use but still has the underlying anxiety disorder.
Problems with rage have often been found to be due to the mood-cycling characteristics of bipolar disorder, previously known as manic-depressive illness. Rage problems exist for a number of reasons, but a surprising number of alcoholics experience the uncontrollable mood swings associated with this condition. Closely related to bipolar disorder is the learning disability known as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A very high percentage of children with ADHD experiment with marijuana and become addicted to it due to its sedative effect. Each of the conditions mentioned above places a recovering addict at high risk for relapse, since the untreated psychiatric condition creates severe emotional discomfort and a craving for some type of quick and powerful relief. This means that it is critically important to treat both the addiction and the psychiatric problem at the same time in order to prevent relapse. Fortunately, many primary treatment programs diagnose and begin treating dual diagnosis patients. Here at Gray Wolf Ranch, we are able to continue this treatment and provide ongoing individual psychotherapeutic support and medication maintenance. In addition to the regular program of group therapy and case management that all residents receive, our residents have access to family practitioners, a board-certified psychiatrist, and a licensed clinical psychologist. This insures that Gray Wolf residents with a dual diagnosis of substance abuse and a psychiatric disorder will continue to receive the high quality of care provided by their primary treatment program. Dr. Bruce Tapper Ph.D. is a member of the Gray Wolf Ranch clinical team. He is a licensed clinical psychologist and works closely with the residents, providing co-case management for those with the dual diagnosis of C.D. and M.I. |
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Wolf Ranch, P.O. Box 102, Port Townsend, Washington 98368 Toll Free: 1-800-571-5505 Local: 360-385-5505 email: gwr@graywolfranch.com |