Some Facts

Addictive Disorders: Some Facts
- The number of people suffering from an addiction problem in Ireland is large and it continues to rise.
- Alcohol consumption has risen more in Ireland than in any other country in Europe and we are currently one of the highest consumers of alcohol per head of population in the world.
- There has also been a rise in the abuse of other drugs including marijuana and tranquillisers.
- Currently approximately 5% of the adult population is alcohol dependent and a further 7% is alcohol abusive. There has also been a notable rise in binge drinking among young men and also in young women.

Addictive disorders are treatable. For some individuals it is enough to give information and feedback for them to tackle the addiction themselves. For others a full treatment programme is required. Although there is no single cause of an addictive disorder it can arise in someone with:
- A strong family history of addiction
- Someone with an early exposure
- Someone who starts drinking at an early age.
- Someone with a high individual tolerance to alcohol.
- Someone who grows up in a highly permissive culture for alcohol and other substances of abuse.
- Some people self-medicate anxiety or a depression problem and this fuels the addiction.

Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are extremely common. Current evidence suggests that 8% of women and 4% of men are suffering from a depressive disorder in Ireland.

Depression can be defined as the onset of lowness in mood, which takes up a significant amount of that person?s daily life.
Symptoms may include:

- A feeling of being sad, unhappy or dull,
- A reduction in energy
- A reduction in activity,
- A loss of appetite,
- A loss of weight
- Sleep disturbance
- Poor concentration and poor memory,
- Feelings of guilt,
- Loss of pleasure (anhedonia),
- Loss of motivation and interest,
- Feelings of pessimism and hopelessness,
- Suicidal ideas

Bipolar Disorder
This affects between 0.5% and 1% of the population and there is an equal incidence in men and women. It is characterized by a period of mania, elation or an extreme feeling of wellbeing which can be short lasting but associated with increased energy, increased rate of speech, significant insomnia, racing thoughts, distractibility, change in behaviour, irritability, lack of judgement, restlessness, over spending and grandiose ideas.

With bipolar disorder there can be a switch between episodes of elation and episodes of depression, or there can be episodes of mixed mood with features of both depression and elation at the same time. The risks for mood disorders include:

- A strong family history,
- Significant traumatic life events,
- Child birth,
- Childhood neglect,
- Childhood abuse,
- Some personality traits

 

Interaction Between Mood & Alcohol
There is a very significant interaction between alcohol dependence and other addictions and mood disorders. Abstinence from alcohol for a period of weeks may be all that is required to lift somebody?s mood in a significant number of addicted patients.
- Alcohol, even in moderate quantities, can cause a depressive episode in a vulnerable person. This can occur on the same night, the next day, or even a few days later.
- Alcohol can also make suicidal ideas more intense in someone with a history old depression.
- Alcohol and other addictive substances may also precipitate episodes of elation in vulnerable people.

Some people can become depressed even as they successfully battle an addiction; some can experience craving as a feeling of depression and others can become depressed as a result of problems which worsen during the period of addiction.