Dual diagnosis a problem of drug addiction and pathology
Dual diagnosis a problem of drug addiction and pathology
David & Joyce Djaelani Gordon, Contributors, Yayasan Harapan Permata Hati Kita,
Bogor
Dani (not his real name), is 42; he is a drug addict, and one
with a mental disorder.
Dani cannot adequately or properly take care of himself or his
daily needs. He cannot hold down a job, therefore cannot earn a
living. He cannot have the usual relationships with family,
friends or associates; he cannot take care of his health and
welfare needs.
Conversation with him flashes from the rational to mostly the
irrational, from semi-logical to very illogical: All in all he
must be taken care of and supervised, daily.
At Yakita Drug Recovery Center, based upon our documentation
from 1999, we have found that approximately one in 18 drug
abusers or addicts, both men and women, who come to the center
for treatment and recovery are dual-diagnoses.
Meaning, they can be clinically diagnosed with having two
separate maladies -- drug addiction, and some type of mental
disorder.
Drug addiction has long been described as a "physical allergy"
(causing a physical craving) coupled with obsession (disorder)
meaning, that it is both a physical illness and a mental
disorder.
Some of the more severe conditions of mental disorders we
encounter regularly include retardation (subnormal, slow, to
almost impossible-to-improve learning capacity), depression,
manic/depressive psychosis, neurosis, schizophrenia,
obsessive/compulsive, illusional, delusional, aggressive
(violent) behavior and others.
Drug addiction and mental disorders are always complex and
present different kinds of problems. The presence of both
problems will surely increase the time for recovery or healing.
Often, even when worked with extensively there can never be a
return to what would be considered normal.
Importance of therapy
Across the nation many still believe that a doctor,
psychiatrist or dukun (shaman) can help an addict or someone with
a mental disorder to recover completely. Many still believe
medication can help restore someone to normality.
It is a fallacy that medication alone will help someone cease
their drug addiction, or get over some types of
pathology/disorder.
Medication is often an immense asset in helping to restore
balance, a semblance of normality for those who are afflicted
with many types of mental disorders, but not so with drug
addiction.
Just as often, therapy is just as important but difficult to
obtain.
Qualified drug recovery professionals/specialists, who manage
recovery centers and facilities, along with the essential ongoing
(therapeutic) after-care programs are all exceedingly limited.
With the nation claiming there are approximately six million
drug users/addicts, and findings indicating that approximately
one in 25 individuals (mostly late-teens upwards) have some kind
of mental or emotional problem, disorder or pathology --
Indonesia is presently in the midst of an evolving crisis
surrounding recovery from drug abuse and co-related mental health
needs and services.
Raising awareness of this extremely serious and vastly complex
problem is certainly of utmost importance. We must also carefully
consider HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and B, and tuberculosis.
All three are rapidly increasing across the nation. People
with diminished capacity or pathologies are far more likely to
engage in risky behavior patterns, not fully understand their
action, or not have the capacity to care about whom they injure,
affect or infect.
When individuals are stricken with a mental disorder or
dysfunction, and are, for whatever reason, addicted to either
illicit drugs, or medications (often only available under
prescription) and dual-diagnosis conditions go without attention
for some time the conditions always worsen.
Dani is just one individual, yet there are tens of thousands
of others who may rightfully be considered as dual-diagnosis. Not
only is there a minimum number of safe places; there is a huge
shortage of trained mental-health specialists and drug-recovery
professionals.
The plight of people with dual-diagnosis is commonly both
heartbreaking and exasperating. Mental illness or diminished-
capacity is often just poignant, because so little can be
accomplished to remedy or rescue the individual from the illness.
Drug addiction is often maddening, in every sense of the word,
because of the enormous problems and damage addiction can bring
upon the addict, as well as those close to the addict.
Promoting self-help
The most expedient action that should be taken at present
would be to create a "house" within local kampongs, where village
community leaders, parents, family, loved ones, and peer-
counselors could establish self-help groups and programs.
Training for such facilities can easily be locally hosted and
supported.
Basic programs, giving an assortment of pertinent information
will most likely find only temporary success.
These measures that can be taken are neither ideal nor
comprehensive, yet they are workable and a progressive beginning
to confront and work with those who are afflicted with an
assortment of mental illnesses and are also drug abusers and
dual-diagnosis addicts.
These are also prudent ways for families and the community or
neighborhood to respond in a semi-secure way to meet the
challenges, the confusion, hardships, strain and pain of not
knowing what to do, who and where to turn to, and how to find
resources that have the capacities and abilities to meet the
needs of both the afflicted person, the family and community.
Also, these "houses" are very affordable because they are
managed and facilitated by the community and need little, if any,
outside assistance or support once established.
Mental illness and drug abuse/addiction cannot be taken
lightly or side-stepped. It is a condition that affects many
thousands throughout the nation.
Neither government nor the medical health and welfare
community has anywhere near the resources, capabilities, or
manpower to address this situation with resolve, for it is far
too widespread and embedded within the populace.
Therefore, it is clearly a far wiser choice for the general
public, families, etc., to learn about dual-diagnosis and create
action plans and safe places within their own communities to care
for those who need help.
in box:
Yayasan Harapan Permata Hati Kita
Villa Pandawa YAKITA
Jl. Ciasin No. 21, Desa Bendungan
Ciawi, Bogor, Jawa Barat
tel. (0251) 243069/077
e-mail: wisma_srikandi@hotmail.com
website: http://www.yakita.or.id
David & Joyce Djaelani Gordon, Contributors, Yayasan Harapan Permata Hati Kita,
Bogor
Dani (not his real name), is 42; he is a drug addict, and one
with a mental disorder.
Dani cannot adequately or properly take care of himself or his
daily needs. He cannot hold down a job, therefore cannot earn a
living. He cannot have the usual relationships with family,
friends or associates; he cannot take care of his health and
welfare needs.
Conversation with him flashes from the rational to mostly the
irrational, from semi-logical to very illogical: All in all he
must be taken care of and supervised, daily.
At Yakita Drug Recovery Center, based upon our documentation
from 1999, we have found that approximately one in 18 drug
abusers or addicts, both men and women, who come to the center
for treatment and recovery are dual-diagnoses.
Meaning, they can be clinically diagnosed with having two
separate maladies -- drug addiction, and some type of mental
disorder.
Drug addiction has long been described as a "physical allergy"
(causing a physical craving) coupled with obsession (disorder)
meaning, that it is both a physical illness and a mental
disorder.
Some of the more severe conditions of mental disorders we
encounter regularly include retardation (subnormal, slow, to
almost impossible-to-improve learning capacity), depression,
manic/depressive psychosis, neurosis, schizophrenia,
obsessive/compulsive, illusional, delusional, aggressive
(violent) behavior and others.
Drug addiction and mental disorders are always complex and
present different kinds of problems. The presence of both
problems will surely increase the time for recovery or healing.
Often, even when worked with extensively there can never be a
return to what would be considered normal.
Importance of therapy
Across the nation many still believe that a doctor,
psychiatrist or dukun (shaman) can help an addict or someone with
a mental disorder to recover completely. Many still believe
medication can help restore someone to normality.
It is a fallacy that medication alone will help someone cease
their drug addiction, or get over some types of
pathology/disorder.
Medication is often an immense asset in helping to restore
balance, a semblance of normality for those who are afflicted
with many types of mental disorders, but not so with drug
addiction.
Just as often, therapy is just as important but difficult to
obtain.
Qualified drug recovery professionals/specialists, who manage
recovery centers and facilities, along with the essential ongoing
(therapeutic) after-care programs are all exceedingly limited.
With the nation claiming there are approximately six million
drug users/addicts, and findings indicating that approximately
one in 25 individuals (mostly late-teens upwards) have some kind
of mental or emotional problem, disorder or pathology --
Indonesia is presently in the midst of an evolving crisis
surrounding recovery from drug abuse and co-related mental health
needs and services.
Raising awareness of this extremely serious and vastly complex
problem is certainly of utmost importance. We must also carefully
consider HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and B, and tuberculosis.
All three are rapidly increasing across the nation. People
with diminished capacity or pathologies are far more likely to
engage in risky behavior patterns, not fully understand their
action, or not have the capacity to care about whom they injure,
affect or infect.
When individuals are stricken with a mental disorder or
dysfunction, and are, for whatever reason, addicted to either
illicit drugs, or medications (often only available under
prescription) and dual-diagnosis conditions go without attention
for some time the conditions always worsen.
Dani is just one individual, yet there are tens of thousands
of others who may rightfully be considered as dual-diagnosis. Not
only is there a minimum number of safe places; there is a huge
shortage of trained mental-health specialists and drug-recovery
professionals.
The plight of people with dual-diagnosis is commonly both
heartbreaking and exasperating. Mental illness or diminished-
capacity is often just poignant, because so little can be
accomplished to remedy or rescue the individual from the illness.
Drug addiction is often maddening, in every sense of the word,
because of the enormous problems and damage addiction can bring
upon the addict, as well as those close to the addict.
Promoting self-help
The most expedient action that should be taken at present
would be to create a "house" within local kampongs, where village
community leaders, parents, family, loved ones, and peer-
counselors could establish self-help groups and programs.
Training for such facilities can easily be locally hosted and
supported.
Basic programs, giving an assortment of pertinent information
will most likely find only temporary success.
These measures that can be taken are neither ideal nor
comprehensive, yet they are workable and a progressive beginning
to confront and work with those who are afflicted with an
assortment of mental illnesses and are also drug abusers and
dual-diagnosis addicts.
These are also prudent ways for families and the community or
neighborhood to respond in a semi-secure way to meet the
challenges, the confusion, hardships, strain and pain of not
knowing what to do, who and where to turn to, and how to find
resources that have the capacities and abilities to meet the
needs of both the afflicted person, the family and community.
Also, these "houses" are very affordable because they are
managed and facilitated by the community and need little, if any,
outside assistance or support once established.
Mental illness and drug abuse/addiction cannot be taken
lightly or side-stepped. It is a condition that affects many
thousands throughout the nation.
Neither government nor the medical health and welfare
community has anywhere near the resources, capabilities, or
manpower to address this situation with resolve, for it is far
too widespread and embedded within the populace.
Therefore, it is clearly a far wiser choice for the general
public, families, etc., to learn about dual-diagnosis and create
action plans and safe places within their own communities to care
for those who need help.
in box:
Yayasan Harapan Permata Hati Kita
Villa Pandawa YAKITA
Jl. Ciasin No. 21, Desa Bendungan
Ciawi, Bogor, Jawa Barat
tel. (0251) 243069/077
e-mail: wisma_srikandi@hotmail.com
website: http://www.yakita.or.id