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Land Acknowledgment - Freedom From Addiction

Concurrent Treatment of Schizophrenia and Addiction

Freedom from Addiction is a leading alcohol and drug addiction rehabilitation centre in Aurora, Ontario. We specialize in trauma-informed care, and take a holistic approach to recovery. Oftentimes, addiction is not the only issue at play, and understanding the connection between mental health disorders and substance abuse allows for more informed treatment plans and more effective recovery.

Understanding Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse

Schizophrenia and addiction interact in ways that potentially compound each condition, heightening the symptoms of both. Both schizophrenia symptoms and the symptoms of drug or alcohol use can have major impacts on a person’s social, work, and personal lives, as they affect how people think, feel, and behave. Recovery is shown to be most successful when schizophrenia and addiction are treated as concurrent conditions.

While integrated treatment increases the chances of recovery, one of the challenges of treating schizophrenia and substance abuse is that patients with schizophrenia symptoms are less likely to continue treatment. Statistically, people with schizophrenia and addiction are more likely to go to jail or require hospitalization. They are also more likely to experience relapses, suicidal thoughts, and problems with finances, housing, and relationships, due to aggressive or volatile behaviour. Here are further statistics about schizophrenia:

Almost 50% of people with schizophrenia have alcohol or drug addictions
Up to 90% of people with schizophrenia are addicted to nicotine
Tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine are common substances used by people with schizophrenia

Can Drugs Cause Schizophrenia?

Using drugs, such as cocaine, cannabis, LSD, or amphetamines, can increase the chances of developing schizophrenia. Drug use can also exacerbate the schizophrenia symptoms already present, and can be a factor in developing psychotic symptoms.

Adolescents and young adults who use drugs are at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia or experiencing the symptoms of schizophrenia later in life. People who have had schizophrenic symptoms in the past are more likely to experience them again with drug use.

So, can drug use cause schizophrenia? Yes. It can cause psychotic symptoms and contribute to the risk of developing schizophrenia.

Can Alcohol Cause Schizophrenia?

No, alcohol use does not cause schizophrenia. However, this can be confusing to some people because alcohol use can cause symptoms similar to the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Alcohol-induced psychosis disorder (AIPD) can occur when a person drinks too much or experiences withdrawal from alcohol if there is alcohol use disorder. These psychotic symptoms can be similar to schizophrenia symptoms. It is also important to note that alcohol use can worsen symptoms for people with schizophrenia.

The Importance of a Holistic Healing Approach

It’s evident that concurrent mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and addiction, can exacerbate each other. Without a treatment plan that addresses both conditions, the negative impacts of schizophrenia and drug addiction can continue to escalate and have serious consequences on a person’s life.

Often, people with substance use disorders prioritize their addiction to the point of damaging their relationships, finances, and personal development. The pursuit of drugs or alcohol can cause their emotional, physical, and mental health to deteriorate.

That’s why we take a holistic approach at Freedom From Addiction. We focus on overall health and rebuilding a person’s wellness alongside recovering from addiction. This means we help our patients recover from schizophrenia and addiction by addressing the mind, body, and spirit—not just the addiction.

At our comfortable establishment, we offer delicious, healthy meals, fitness programs, and emotional-based recovery. These aspects and others provide distractions from withdrawal symptoms while benefiting mental health and physical well-being.

Our Personalized Concurrent Treatment Programs

We understand every patient is different. That’s why we create personalized concurrent treatment plans for schizophrenia and addiction that best align with the individual needs of each person. At Freedom From Addiction, our concurrent treatments include the following outlined below.

Medical Detox

As the first step toward recovery, we help patients through a monitored, assisted medical detox. We consider each patient and create a unique plan based on the drug or alcohol used, the length of use, and any other medical conditions.

Drug Addiction Treatment

Drug addiction treatment varies depending on the drug used. Our goal is to re-establish a healthy lifestyle, reduce the chances of relapse, and reinstate life skills.

Our patients will have support from our professional staff and access to beneficial programs as they go through withdrawal for the following:

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

We don’t jump into anything without careful consideration of our patients and their recovery path. We start with a comprehensive assessment to determine what each patient needs before beginning alcohol detox. Then, we provide furnished bedrooms, a gym, and an activity room to promote well-being and recovery.

Mental Health Treatment

Because of the substantial connection between schizophrenia and substance abuse, as well as all other mental health disorders and addiction, we provide programs that address our patients’ mental health alongside their addiction. We have professional counsellors well-versed in many modalities.

Our patients can participate in treatment that resonates with them, from cognitive behavioural therapy to anger management. We can’t treat addiction if we don’t first understand the mind and what puts it at increased risk for mental health disorders and addiction. Below are some of our programs:

Aftercare and Continued Support for Long-Term Recovery

We have continuing care for our patients once they have completed the first few steps of recovery. Withdrawal from drugs and alcohol isn’t the end goal. It’s the beginning of the process. We ensure our patients are well-equipped to deal with the impacts of their addiction in the future.

We offer aftercare for patients and families that supports recovery even after they leave our treatment facility. This includes a Relapse Prevention program to educate patients and families about relapse and how to avoid it.

Additionally, our Life Skills program is designed to help patients relearn the skills they lost through addiction. Our care doesn’t end when individuals with schizophrenia and addiction have completed their initial treatment.

Receive Specialized Addiction Treatment at Freedom from Addiction

It’s unrealistic to expect every person with alcohol or drug addiction to react, learn, and recover in the same way, so we don’t. We offer concurrent treatment plans for schizophrenia and addiction that are fine-tuned to every individual patient for the best chance of recovery and relapse prevention. Every patient receives care tailored to help them through their recovery journey, from initial treatment to continuing care.

Freedom From Addiction is a private rehabilitation centre where patients can take the first steps in their recovery journey in a safe environment, with trained professionals who understand the relationship between substance abuse and mental health.

Contact us today. If you or someone you care about is struggling with drug addiction or alcohol addiction, don’t wait to reach out for help.