Rehabilitation from drug & alcohol misuse with mental health

[Rebecca]

The patients I care for have a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, also being long term detained in mental health units, prisons and the younger ones in youth offender units. Different age ranges.
With the onset of drug induced psychosis on the brain and also paranoid schizophrenia brought on by cannabis, cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin,lsd and alcohol abuse. This has effected their personality and physical functioning so much. The drugs have damaged the neurotransmitters and release of domamine in the brain. Often leaving some ofthem in a unrepairable condition. Although we give medicines to improve and stabilise for some people there is often a resistance. Helping patients to understand why the drugs have caused such damage and looking at ways forward to rehabilitate, sometimes we can help to make changes and see a positive outlook too. I have heard some of the patinets say on reflection ifthey knew what damage the drugs and alcohol would do to them they wouldnt have taken it, but their life circumstances were often so dysfunctional they looked to drugs and alcohol as a relief. On the road to self discovery and insight is the next step for them.
Rebecca