Psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy. These are broad, general terms that refer to a general approach many many different emotional and mental problems. Effective substance use disorder treatment is a specific and specialized approach to a medical condition. The brain does not process chemical intoxicants correctly and it leads to severe dysfunctions in behavior. That is- compulsive use of said intoxicants. Based in the brain. We can SEE the malfunctioning parts of the brain. This compulsive unwanted desire, NEED to use sometimes leads to incomprehensible ethical and moral deviation in a person.
Effectively treat a substance use disorder and you will effectively treat a broad array of psychiatric conditions in the process.
Effective treatment of a psychiatric condition has no effect on a substance use disorder; in fact, it will often enable that substance use disorder to fester, hide and lead the patient to rationalize the need to keep using the very fuel for a very bad fire that is killing them. Often a slow and ugly death that destroys many lives in its way.
Specialized substance use disorder is VITAL; especially when a less intensive, though vital, intervention such as AA has not been effective to stop that fire. Most people w the disorder can get abstinent and healthy within AA. Some folks, a smaller percentage, require stronger treatment using specialized medical and psychiatric care.
More to come. If interested in such discussion, follow my site at recovery101. Its getting refreshed Jan 2018!
