Discover how mental health influences opioid addiction and how comprehensive treatment with medication-assisted treatment can promote long-lasting recovery.
Mental health is often misunderstood or ignored, yet it influences every aspect of our lives. It comprises our emotional, psychological and social well-being, impacting how we think, feel and behave. The state of our mental health can change throughout time, sometimes worsening and leaving us susceptible to other problems.
Opioid use disorder is a medical condition marked by a destructive cycle of opioid misuse, leading to impairment and distress. Many factors can lead someone to habitually misuse opioids, including poor mental health. Conversely, substance use disorder can be the cause of poor mental health. The connection between substance use disorder and mental health weaves a complex web.
The key to understanding the link between mental health and opioid addiction is looking closely at how they intertwine. Keep reading to learn about the different elements influencing co-occurring disorders and how to get help if you are struggling.
How Do Opioids Affect Mental Health?
Opioids greatly affect mental health by changing brain chemistry. Misusing opioids can induce euphoric highs, elevate the risk of mental illnesses and cause shifts in mood and cognition. With continued misuse, opioids can quickly pave the way towards addiction and worsened mental health.
Opioids affect the brain by:
- Slowing brain function: Opioids are depressants of the central nervous system that can reduce brain activity, impacting decision-making and behavior regulation.
- Boosting dopamine: Opioids bind to brain receptors and elevate dopamine levels, a chemical responsible for generating feelings of pleasure and reward euphoria.
- Changing neural circuitry: Prolonged opioid misuse can alter neural pathways in the brain, reducing white matter and affecting behavioral health.
Long-term opioid misuse may lead to opioid use disorder. OUD can exacerbate mental illnesses such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Schizophrenia
Other mental illnesses can come about that are not on this list. However, these are the most common. Additionally, opioid withdrawal often results in intense anxiety and additional mood fluctuations. Opioid addiction can cause constant ups and downs of highs and withdrawal, leading to instability and disorder.
The Connection Between Mental Illness and OUD
The relationship between opioid addiction and mental illness is intricate and mutually reinforcing. When they exist at the same time, they become known as co-occurring disorders. People with mental health issues are more vulnerable to opioid misuse, often to self-medicate their symptoms.
Prolonged opioid use can cause brain changes that heighten the risk of developing or worsening mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. Treating both conditions, known as dual diagnosis, is essential for successful recovery.
Mental illness and opioid use disorder intertwine due to shared risk factors. Mental disorders and OUD have common roots, including genetic predispositions, early life trauma and alterations in brain composition. The areas that influence mood and impulse control are most often affected.
- Genetics: Both substance use and mental health disorders can be inherited, meaning family history influences risk. Genetic factors also affect how drugs influence an individual and how their body responds. While genetics do not directly cause addiction or mental health issues, they can increase an individual’s susceptibility to developing such conditions.
- Environmental Factors: Various environmental factors can influence the development of a mental illness and increase the risk of opioid misuse. Residing in areas where drugs are manufactured and sold can lead to early experimentation and addiction.
- Early Life Trauma: Trauma and substance use are highly correlated. Adverse childhood events significantly increase the risk of developing both OUD and mental health issues. Childhood trauma can interfere with the normal development of brain structures and reward systems. This interference in brain circuitry heightens the likelihood of OUD and associated mental health disorders.
- Brain Composition: Certain brain regions may be involved in both the emergence of mental illness and the risk of developing OUD. Dysfunctions in reward pathways can lead to an increased desire to use substances in individuals with mental health conditions.
The cycle between mental illness and opioid use disorder is most often mutually reinforcing, with each condition intensifying the other. Mental illness may lead to opioid misuse as a way to self-medicate. Meanwhile, long-term opioid use can aggravate existing psychiatric symptoms and introduce new ones.
Mental Health Support in MAT Programs
Treatment for co-occurring conditions such as mental illness and opioid use disorder is possible for everyone. Integrated treatment is most effective, using a combination of medication and counseling for OUD. Behavioral therapy in MAT is necessary to address the psychological and emotional components of opioid use disorder.
The key components of MAT and mental health include:
- Medication: MAT treatment options include FDA-approved medications taken daily at home or at a clinic. These medications stabilize brain chemistry, relieve withdrawal and block cravings, helping patients focus on other aspects of recovery.
- Counseling: Behavioral therapies include individual and group counseling. One-on-one sessions with a professional to identify causes of misuse, develop coping strategies and address cognitive and emotional issues. Structured group sessions enable participants to learn collaboratively, establish a support network and develop new communication skills.
- Patient services: MAT programs offer both formal and informal support services that focus on the patient’s overall well-being. Patients can access peer support programs, case management and family counseling to improve their progress.
This comprehensive approach works to stabilize brain chemistry and lessen symptoms of mental illness. Patients also learn effective coping strategies and work to foster a strong support network. A supportive outpatient program facilitates sustained recovery by addressing the whole person rather than only physical symptoms.
Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder with BAART
BAART recognizes the challenges involved in treating both mental health disorders and opioid addiction at the same time. This fuels our dedication to providing a specialized dual diagnosis program tailored to your individual needs. With a skilled team of professionals, we combine evidence-based therapies with a holistic approach to support your journey toward lasting recovery.
If you or someone you care about is facing mental health issues and opioid addiction, contact BAART to learn more. Recovery is achievable for everyone, including you. Take the first step toward a new future by reaching out to BAART today.
