Addictions counseling, also called substance abuse counseling, is a specialization in counseling that focuses on treating individuals with a dependency on drugs or alcohol.

Addictions Counseling

Mindfulness has been studied for its usage in those suffering from addiction to substances. Mindfulness has been shown in some scenarios to be effective in decreasing addictive behaviors in people addicted to substances such as opioids, heroin, cocaine, drinking, and smoking. 

Mindfulness for those suffering from substance use disorder

Symptoms include: 
-Sudden weight loss or gain
-Pupils that are smaller or larger than usual
-bloodshot eyes
-changes in appetite and sleeping patterns
-slurred speech
-impaired coordination or tremors 
-deterioration of the physical appearance or changes in grooming practices
running nose



Substance Use Disorder Symptons 

Occurs after the body has adapted to the drug's presence after a period of time. When the drug is abruptly removed, it can cause a variety of physical symptoms. In some cases, this can be dangerous.

Substance Withdrawal Disorder

- Theories include opponent, inhibitory control, reward deficiency, incentive sensitization, aberrant learning, and anti-reward theory 

Neuroadaptive Theories in Addiction/Craving

A chronic syndrome characterized by anterograde and retrograde amnesia due to alcoholism, along with other cognitive deficits. It is caused by a lack of thiamine (vitamin B1), which damages neurons. It can also involve deficits in executive functioning, apathy, and social impairments. 

Korsakoff's Syndrome

Alcohol abuse is responsible for one in eight deaths among older Americans. It is predicted that there will be an increase in illicit drug use and alcohol abuse among the baby boomer cohort as many have showcased addiction to prescription medication in the past.

Substance Abuse in Geriatric People 

AUDIT-C is a screener test for evaluating current alcohol consumption risk. 

Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-C)

Alcohol Use Disorder is characterized by symptoms such as alcohol craving, recurrent use of alcohol that interferes with the fulfillment of one’s daily responsibilities, alcohol-seeking behavior, inability to control one’s drinking, drinking despite potential hazards (e.g., drinking while driving), the need for increased amounts of alcohol to achieve its effects (tolerance), and withdrawal symptoms when one stops or reduces alcohol intake (e.g., hand tremors, nausea, agitation, hallucinations). The disorder is distinguished as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the number of these symptoms that an individual may have: Mild cases present with two to three symptoms; moderate cases four to five symptoms; and severe cases six or more symptoms.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Health Psychology research studies relating to Substance Abuse include

- ICU Admissions and Alcohol Misuse
- Factors Associated with AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder)
- Alcohol Use and Gender



Health Psychology Research Relating to Substance Abuse

Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants are a category of drugs that increase nervous system activity. This group includes cocaine, amphetamines, cathinones, and MDMA, which act as dopamine agonists. Other stimulants like nicotine and caffeine function by affecting acetylcholine and adenosine neurotransmitter systems, respectively.

Central Nervous System Stimulants

It is a mental disorder that affects a person's brain and behavior, leading to their inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medication. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most powerful form of SUDs.

Villanova University

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Santa Clara University

Syracuse University

A subcategory of overall health relating to one's emotional well-being by one's ability to successfully overcome everyday stressors, to realize one's inner potential, and to work in a manner that gives back to the self and to their community.

Mental Health

Older adults are most commonly are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, insomnia, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and dementia. 

Common Mental Health Conditions in Geriatric Adults

Substance use disorders are the second most common comorbid psychiatric condition among BED patients, with 68% suffering from at least one substance use disorder. Alcohol use disorder is most prevalent, affecting 52% of BED patients, followed by nicotine use disorder (40.2%) and other drug use disorders (24.7%). 

Substance Use Disorders in Binge Eating Disorder Patients

* Daydreaming
* Intoxication
* Substance use
* Unconsciousness due to anesthesia

Altered States of Awareness Examples

American Psychiatric Association. (2020, December). What is a substance use disorder? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-is-addiction

American Psychiatric Association Substance Use Disorder 

American Psychological Association. (2021). Addictions. https://www.apa.org/topics/addiction#:~:text=Addiction%20is%20a%20chronic%20disorder,influencing%20its%20development%20and%20maintenance.

APA Addictions

Between 10 and 20% of adolescents worldwide experience a mental health problem within a given 12-month period. Mental health problems impact on an adolescent’s potential to live a fulfilling and productive life and lead to challenges such as stigma, isolation and discrimination. 

Adolescent Mental Health

There is a need for global emphasis on more comprehensive mental health promotion and intervention in schools. The SMHILE (School Mental Health International Leadership Exchange) identified 5 critical themes for nations to advance SMH (=school mental health). Doing so, we can accomplish cross-nation collaboration among research and policy leaders from diverse countries and share experiences/lessons to improve SMH.


Comprehensive Mental Health Promotion & Intervention in School

The long-term physical, mental, emotional, and psychological effects of racism.

Weathering

Defines strategies that typically involve health-oriented public policies, an improvement in community action, significant positive changes in regards to creating healthy environments, development of essential personal skills, and the redistribution and improvement of health-related services.

Mental Health Promotion Strategies 

Generally speaking, anxiety is a reaction by the body that ensues negative internal experiences such as negative thoughts or feelings. Physical changes may also follow, such as an increase in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, trembling, and so on.

Anxiety

Assessments, treatments, and counseling resources offered in private, public, outpatient and inpatient facilities that focus on serving individuals experiencing mental health crises and issues. 

Mental Health Services

NIMH. (2022). Anxiety Disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved March 12, 2022, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders 

Panic Disorder Reference

NIMH. (2022). NIMH. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved April 6, 2022, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ 

NIMH

Dementia is characterized by memory loss and impairment of mental functioning that. Depression, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and wandering are symptoms of the illness.

Dementia

Substance Use Disorder

Gender is a determinant of mental health. Different factors different genders face impacting their mental health and lives, social position, status, and treatment in society. Gender differences also occur in the rates of common mental disorders.

Gender and Mental Health

Emotion regulation is the process by which individuals manage their emotional responses to various situations and experiences. This involves altering their emotional experiences and how they are expressed.

Emotional Regulation

While wellbeing does not have a clear and universal definition, people believe that it can be conceptualized in a few ways:

- Positive Construct
- Subjective Construct
- Multi-dimensional Construct

Wellbeing

Shim, R. S., Compton, M. T., Rust, G., Druss, B. G., & Kaslow, N. J. (2009). Race-Ethnicity as a Predictor of Attitudes Toward Mental Health Treatment Seeking. Psychiatric Services, 60(10), 1336–1341. https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/ps.2009.60.10.1336 

Reference for Predictors in Mental Health Seeking Behaviors

 Societal or internal criticism that shames the desire for professional mental health support and can lead to negative changes in help seeking behaviors.

Mental Health Stigma

Conner, K. O., Copeland, V. C., Grote, N. K., Koeske, G., Rosen, D., Reynolds, C. F., 3rd, & Brown, C. (2010). Mental health treatment seeking among older adults with depression: the impact of stigma and race. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(6), 531–543. https://doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181cc0366

Reference for Predictors in Mental Health Seeking Behaviors(Age)

Insomnia, the most prevalent sleep disorder, is characterized by a persistent difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep. Individuals with this condition often experience significant delays before falling asleep and may wake up frequently during the night, struggling to resume sleep. According to diagnostic criteria, these sleep disturbances must occur at least three nights a week for a minimum of one month.

Insomnia

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013, is the primary classification system used by most mental health professionals in the United States to diagnose psychological disorders.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)

Older white Americans have the highest rates of suicide. Two-fifths of older adults who committed suicide visited their primary care physician in the past week and about three-quarters did so in the past month.

Suicide in Geriatric People

Geriatric nurses undergo chronic lack of time, irregular worktime, limiting career growth, disruptive patients and patient families, and stressors from losing patients. Altogether, this leads to anger, anxiety, depression, and frustration.

Common Mental Conditions in Geriatric Nurses

Addictive disorders characterized by a compulsive pattern of drug use and marked by both physical and psychological dependence on the substance. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) is used by clinicians to diagnose drug use disorders. Individuals with these disorders often consume more of the substance than intended and persist in its use despite significant adverse consequences.

Substance Use Disorders

An individual is sitting in a quiet lecture hall. Although their eyes are open and directed toward the speaker, their mind has drifted to thoughts of an upcoming vacation. They are not processing the speaker's words and are largely unaware of their immediate surroundings for a brief period. Which of the following best categorizes this individual's state?

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