Understanding the Connection Between Schizophrenia and Addiction

Schizophrenia is a complex and serious brain disorder that has lifelong effects. Many people with this condition need additional support from their loved ones, because they may not know that they have schizophrenia. Even if they know and understand their diagnosis, they can still struggle to differentiate their symptoms from reality. 

This disorder can lead to addiction issues and can also be exacerbated by the use of substances. While schizophrenia cannot be cured, professional support and the right treatment options can make a major difference in a person’s quality of life. At Jackson House, our compassionate team is here to offer support and guidance for those facing mental health and addiction issues.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia primarily impacts a person’s thought processes, feelings, perceptions, and behaviors. It can cause a person to lose touch with reality, and their symptoms are often extremely distressing for both the person with schizophrenia and their loved ones. 

Common symptoms and signs of schizophrenia include:

• Delusions and difficulty connecting to reality
• Disorganized or confused thinking and speech
• Extremely disorganized or abnormal motor behavior, including catatonia, excessive movement, and agitation
• Hallucinations, which can be visual, auditory, or involve other senses
• Negative symptoms, like a lack of emotional response, reduced speech, apathy, and social issues

The hallucinations and delusions associated with schizophrenia can distort a person’s perception of reality. They might hear voices in their head, see things other people do not, or strongly believe something that is not true. 

For example, a person with this condition might believe that someone completely harmless is out to get them, or they might believe that they have special abilities. These experiences can cause harm and lead to fear and paranoia, as they are often indistinguishable from reality.

There are a few risk factors and patterns associated with schizophrenia. It does have a genetic component, which means it can run in families. However, this does not mean that if a parent has schizophrenia, their child is guaranteed to have the same disorder.

Men often have an earlier onset of schizophrenia than women on average. There are also environmental factors that should be taken into account, such as trauma or past substance use. 

What is a Dual Diagnosis?

A dual diagnosis is when someone is suffering from both a mental illness and an addiction. It is also known as a co-occurring disorder. In most cases of dual diagnosis, the two conditions are often connected.

Many mental health conditions can cause people to use substances, often in an attempt to relieve their symptoms or cope with them. This can, in turn, lead to an abuse disorder. Unfortunately, this can be a vicious cycle, as substances can actually make mental health symptoms more severe.

This is because substances alter brain chemistry and interfere with neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and GABA. These can make it harder to regulate emotions and can make people who use substances more susceptible to stress, pleasure-seeking behavior, and poor focus. 

Schizophrenia and Addiction

Nearly 50% of people with schizophrenia have a history of substance abuse. Certain substances have been linked to an earlier onset of schizophrenia than normal, as well as more severe symptoms like agitation and hallucinations. 

Some people with schizophrenia can have less impulse control, making them more likely to take risks, which includes substance abuse. Others may turn to drugs and alcohol to try to self-medicate or cope with more distressing symptoms. 

This can interfere with the medication they take for schizophrenia, making it more difficult for them to seek treatment, worsening their symptoms, and putting the person with schizophrenia in more dangerous situations. 

Treatment at Jackson House

When treating schizophrenia and substance abuse, it is important to tackle both issues at the same time in recovery. Jackson House offers dual diagnosis treatment that addresses mental health and addiction issues.

Dual diagnosis treatment involves a combination of:

• Therapy with experts who will create a tailored treatment plan for the individual’s needs
• Safe and guided detoxification to flush any substances out of the system
• Medication to treat schizophrenia and help with withdrawal symptoms
• Support groups that involve people who are coping with similar situations 

Even two people with identical diagnoses might require different levels of care, as they can respond differently to certain treatment methods. Further, each client’s personal experiences should be considered as well. The initial assessment allows our team to bear each client’s needs in mind and assess their unique situation. 

Our team strives to make sure that residents are safe and supported through their recovery. In addition to therapy and medication, we also provide recovery support as clients rebuild their lives. As clients transition back to their normal lives with all the support they need, they can apply the tools they have learned in treatment. This helps them to build a healthy routine to support a complete recovery from their addiction disorder.

Schizophrenia requires additional support from loved ones and professionals, and our team will be here to help throughout every step.

Local Dual Diagnosis Support

If you or a loved one suffers from a dual diagnosis of schizophrenia and an addiction disorder, you can get the help and support you need for the best chances of recovery. Our team at Jackson House can provide individualized treatment for many different mental health conditions, including schizophrenia.

Contact us today to learn more about our mental health treatment and programs and how we can support you or a loved one on the road to recovery.