Mental Health News Spring 2005
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MENTAL HEALTH NEWSTM YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE OF INFORMATION, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND RESOURCES SPRING 2005 FROM THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL NEWS SCENE VOL. 7 NO. 2 Understanding And Treating Co-Occurring Disorders Staff Writer 700,000 of these individuals have co-occurring disor- Mental Health News ders. More then two million youth under the age of 18 are arrested each year, half of whom will have contact with the juvenile justice system. A high percentage of ne in every five adults, or about 44 million these youth experience both serious mental health and Americans, experiences some type of mental substance-abuse problems. disorder every year. Moreover, five percent The presence of co-occurring mental and substance- O of Americans have a severe and persistent abuse disorders is complex, as the illnesses interact mental illness, such as schizophrenia and schizo- with, and exacerbate, one another. Emerging research affective disorders, major depression, and bipolar disor- suggests that mental disorders often precede substance der. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the United abuse. It is also the case that alcohol abuse, drug abuse, States spent more than $99 billion for mental, addictive, and withdrawal can cause or worsen symptoms of men- and dementia disorders in 1996. Indirect costs of all tal illnesses. Substance use can also mask symptoms of mental illness in 1990, the most recent year for which mental illness, particularly when alcohol and drugs that estimates are available, totaled $79 billion dollars. are abused are used to “medicate” the mental illness. These costs include those associated with lost produc- care, including inpatient hospitalization. Many are at One disorder may interfere with an individual’s ability tivity and premature death. increased risk of homelessness and incarceration. to benefit from –– and participate in –– treatment for Many individuals with serious mental illnesses have Of an estimated 600,000 people who are homeless another disorder. Dysfunctional and maladaptive behav- a co-occurring substance-abuse disorder. Estimates sug- on any given day, approximately 25 to 30 percent have iors can be attributed to either disorder. Individuals with gest that up to seven million adults in this country have a mental illness. As many as one half of all people who untreated mental disorders are at increased risk for sub- a combination of at least one co-occurring mental health are homeless and have a serious mental illness also stance abuse. Similarly, individuals who abuse alcohol and substance-related disorder in any given year. have a substance-abuse disorder. The number of per- are at increased risk for experiencing mental disorders. In comparison to individuals with a primary mental or sons with co-occurring mental health and substance- While there is a good deal of variability from person substance abuse disorder, individuals with co-occurring abuse disorders who are also involved with the criminal to person and no single set of co-occurring disorders, disorders tend to be more symptomatic, have multiple justice system is reaching epidemic proportions. About health and social problems, and require more costly 10 million adults each year enter U.S. jails, about see Understanding on page 38 A Consumer’s Heroic Path To Recovery By Lucee Martyn and Lucee’s story is, unfortunately, an all know that it’s not their fault, and that Patricia Maher-Brisen, APRN, BC too familiar refrain amongst consumers. turning to drugs and/or alcohol wasn’t NAMI-NYC Metro In at least half of all individuals with a the best way to go.” biochemical disorder, there exists addic- After her inpatient rehabilitation, Lu- tion and subsequent substance abuse. cee was sent to a halfway house for ike many consumers, Lucee The line between the two is very often women with addictions. “The supervisor Martyn has had a life marked blurred. there helped me realize my humanity, by the challenges of addiction. Without realizing her addiction, Lu- and that I could have a good life. I As a NAMI-New York City cee’s best friend told her that she was an stayed at the halfway house for three LMetro peer mentor, she is comfortable alcoholic and that she should go to Alco- years. We had to go to church every speaking about her dual struggles with holics Anonymous (A.A.). Then, at the Sunday. Although I was not a religious mental illness and substance abuse. “I age of 19, she went to Smithers Institute person, and began going reluctantly, I started drinking heavily at the age of (now The Addictions Institute of New learned how to develop a relationship 13,” she says. “I started drinking to for- York), where she was their youngest with God, as I understood him to be.” get about my life, which included two patient. “I was told that I would never Eventually, this relationship brought her years of repeated sexual assault by make it in a New York City rehab. So great comfort, “because it was on my someone close to my family. I thought with the clothes on my back, I was sent terms.” Grateful for the strength her drinking was harmless, but eventually it to Rhode Island, where I stayed at a re- newfound spirituality gave her, Lucee became an addiction. Eventually, I drank hab center for two years.” sought to become a minister. She soon everyday, because I would shake without Lucee Martyn It was there she realized that she did- enrolled in a ministry school where she the alcohol. At the age of 16, I was hos- n’t want to drink anymore, but knew that was able to counsel people about sub- pitalized for six months due to ‘major would hear, and that the voices would- the road to recovery would be long and stance abuse. “Two months before my depression with psychotic features.’ I n’t stop unless the drinking did. But painful. “I was determined to fight, ordination, however, I was asked to continued to drink in the hospital by once I was back home, I knew I would because I knew that if I didn’t I would leave, because I became sick again with having visitors smuggle it in for me. have to face my rapist, and because die. I wanted to live because I wanted major depression and the voices were The hospital staff told me that the al- drinking was my known escape, I used to help other teenagers that had experi- cohol was intensifying the voices I it to help me cope.” enced sexual assault, and to let them see Heroic Path on page 20 NON PROFIT Mental Health News Education, Inc. ORGANIZATION 65 Waller Avenue U.S. POSTAGE PAID White Plains, NY 10605 WHITE PLAINS, NY PERMIT NO. 153 PAGE 2 MENTAL HEALTH NEWS ~ SPRING 2005 Mental Health News Advisory Council Sigurd H. Ackerman, MD, President & Medical Director Rena Finkelstein, President Lois Kroplick, MD, Founder & Chairwoman L. Mark Russakoff, MD, Director of Psychiatry Silver Hill Hospital NAMI-FAMILYA of Rockland County Mental Health Coalition of Rockland County Phelps Memorial Hospital Center Nadia Allen, Executive Director Donald M. Fitch, MS., Executive Director Rabbi Simon Lauber, Executive Director Thomas E. Sanders, CSW, President & CEO Mental Health Association in Orange County The Center For Career Freedom Bikur Cholim of Rockland County Family Service of Westchester Richard Altesman, MD, Representative Pam Forde, Director Joseph Lazar, Director, New York City Field Office Phillip Saperia, Executive Director American Psychiatric Association National Assembly Putnam Family Support and Advocacy New York State Office of Mental Health Coalition of Voluntary Mental Health Agencies Gene Aronowitz, PhD, Director of Operations Michael B. Friedman, LMSW Leo Leiderman, PsyD, ABPP, Director Jennifer Schaffer, PhD, Commissioner Fordham-Tremont Community Mental Health Center Public Policy Consultant Saint Vincent Hospital - Latino Treatment Services Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health Peter C. Ashenden, Executive Director Maureen Friar, Executive Director Dominick Lepore, MS, CTRS, Vice President Judy L. Scheel, PhD, Director Mental Health Empowerment Project Supportive Housing Network of New York Westchester Medical Center - Behavioral Health Center Center for Eating Disorder Recovery Chris Ashman, MS, Commissioner Steven J. Friedman Andrew P. Levin, MD, Medical Director Edythe S. Schwartz, ACSW, Executive Director Orange County Department of Community Mental Health Mental Health & Public Policy Analyst Westchester Jewish Community Services Putnam Family & Community Services Jeannine Baart, MS Kenneth M. Glatt, PhD, ABPP, Commissioner Robert M. Lichtman, PhD, DAPA J. David Seay JD, Executive Director Mental Health Education Consultant Dutchess County Department of Mental Hygiene Rockland Psychiatric Center NAMI - New York State Alan D. Barry, PhD, Administrative Director, Arnold Gould, Co-President Constance Lieber, President, Board of Directors Janet Z. Segal, CSW, Chief Operating Officer Department of Psychiatry, Norwalk Hospital NAMI Queens/Nassau NARSAD Four Winds Hospital Alexander J. Berardi, LCSW, Executive Director Flemming Graae, MD, Chief, Child & Adolescent Glenn Liebman, President & CEO Kren K. Shriver, MPH, MD, Clinical Director KEYSTONE Psychiatry, Westchester Medical Center Mental Health Association In New York State Hudson River Psychiatric Center Al Bergman, Chief Executive Officer Steven Greenfield, Executive Director Robert Litwak, CSW, Assistant Executive Director Michael Silverberg, President SLS Health Mental Health Association of Nassau County Mental Health Association of Westchester NAMI - New York State Sheldon Blitstein, CSW Ralph A. Gregory, President & CPO Hon. Nita M. Lowey Alan B. Siskind, PhD, Executive Vice President & CEO NY United Hospital - Behavioral Health Services United Way Of Westchester & Putnam U.S. Congress - 18th District Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services James Bopp, Executive Director Mary Guardino, Founder & Executive Director Paige Macdonald, Executive Director Jeffery Smith, MD Rockland and Middletown Psychiatric Centers Freedom From Fear Families Together in New York State Private Practitioner Linda Breton, CSW, Assistant Executive Director Mark D. Gustin, MBA, MPS, Senior Associate Director Lawrence Mandell, President & CEO Steven H.