Suffering multiple conditions at once causes a tangle of symptoms, making each condition diagnosis confusing and unclear. You almost fail to see where to start treatment for your teen or young adult in such dual diagnosis situations. But when you suffer from addiction to alcohol and ADHD, you do have hope for a more stable, fulfilling, and happier future. This future begins with the right treatment.
Alcohol and ADHD create a dangerous cycle of addiction and symptoms. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is more common than you think. But not all people with this condition know of their disorder—they simply feel their life spinning more out of control. Venture Academy is here to help. Call 866.762.2211 to learn more about drug and alcohol treatment near you.
What Is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, more often called ADHD, is a disorder causing chronic problems with attention and energy. The combined inattention and hyperactivity make focusing on tasks feel impossible. Researchers believe the condition occurs because of lower frontal lobe activity in the brain.
Some people with ADHD have brain scans showing an actually smaller prefrontal cortex. This is where many functions take place, such as:
- Thinking
- Attention
- Memory
- Problem-solving
- Organization
If your teen or young adult has ADHD, they struggle with all of these functions as part of daily life. They experience the biggest problems in socializing, completing tasks, performing well on tests, meeting deadlines, and advancing at work.
Many young people with these problems show their struggles through anger, insecurity, low self-esteem, acting out, or other behavioural problems. Many also suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Still, others start abusing substances, such as drugs or alcohol.
Alcohol and ADHD
Alcohol, like ADHD, affects the brain’s frontal lobe. Combining alcohol with ADHD thus only further impairs the brain’s executive functioning. In teens and young adults, this leads to wild emotional swings and uncontrollable behaviours.
Alcohol also works as a depressant, helping people relax—people who have ADHD may turn to alcohol to stop feeling the hyperactive effects of their ADHD. But alcohol and ADHD lead to a cycle of alcohol dependence, uncontrolled symptoms, and other mental health problems. Soon, you do not recognise your teen or young adult’s behaviours and need help to improve their life.
How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Can Help
Adolescents who suffer from both ADHD and alcohol addiction can benefit greatly from dual diagnosis treatment. Dual diagnosis treatment helps teens understand the connection between their two disorders, how one might be affecting the other, and how to effectively manage both. It also provides educational resources on topics like risk management, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and relapse prevention.
Dual diagnosis treatment can help in many ways, such as:
- Developing healthy coping mechanisms
- Understand and manage triggers and cravings
- Developing better decision-making skills
- Support for mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and anger management
- Access to beneficial medication if needed
- Promotes healthy lifestyle changes
- Involves the family to promote healing and communication
- Access to education and resources
Dual diagnosis treatment can be a challenging process but a rewarding one. By providing comprehensive treatment for both ADHD and alcohol addiction, dual diagnosis treatment can help adolescents start down the path toward a healthier future. With the right help, teens can learn to cope with their symptoms and lead more fulfilling lives.
Find Help for Your Teen at Venture Academy
Watching your young person spin out of control is heartbreaking. You see they need help but feel so powerless in trying to provide it. But with teen ADHD treatment and other mental health treatments they need, you can bring them back to a healthier, happier way of life.
Teen ADHD and alcohol treatment must include the following:
- Youth detox and substance use disorder treatment
- Teen depression treatment
- Individual counselling
- 30-day assessment and intervention
You can find all of these treatments and therapies for your teen at Venture Academy in Canada. With locations in Ontario and Alberta, your teen gains alcohol and ADHD recovery for the brighter future they deserve. Call Venture Academy now at 866.762.2211 for more information about available programs. You can also fill out our online contact form and let us get back to you.
