Brain Injuries and Substance Abuse

Medical practitioners commonly acknowledge that substance abuse plays a part in many cases of traumatic brain injury. A victim may have engaged in recreational drug use or alcohol abuse before the injury, the brain injury event may have been caused by intoxication, and problems with substance abuse can arise in victims of traumatic brain injury after they are discharged from medical facilities. What role does substance abuse play in traumatic brain injury? What can you do if a loved one suffering from traumatic brain injury is also struggling with drug or alcohol abuse?

Alcohol abuse plays a major role in traumatic brain injury, with many incidents occurring in relation to automobile crashes or heavy equipment used while under the influence. The medical community recognizes that young males are the most likely to suffer from alcohol-related TBI. These incidents may be isolated, but many fall within a context of broader substance abuse: for example, a longitudinal study at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio has found that nearly 60 percent of their patient sample had prior histories of drug and alcohol abuse.

Someone with a previous record of substance abuse may have a more difficult time being hospitalized than those with no previous record or history. This is due to the fact that many patients are both recovering from their brain injuries and dealing with the frustrating physical and emotional effects of detoxification. The presence of drug or alcohol abuse can also complicate diagnoses, as many of the symptoms of overdose (respiratory depression, lethargy, confusion, apathy, and disorientation) are similar to those of traumatic brain injury. Thus, TBI is sometimes overlooked, leading to complications and ongoing symptoms related to insufficient care.

The struggles with substance abuse do not necessarily end when a traumatic brain injury patient is released from the hospital and discharged to his or her home and community. In fact, they are sometimes just beginning: Victims of TBIs often turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with the emotional disturbances or changes in personality that might be a result of a brain injury. The brain injury patient may not even be able to disclose his or her own problems with substances due to after effects of the injury such as speech issues or memory loss; similarly, they may already exhibit external symptoms some would associate with intoxication and may feel that it doesn't matter if they actually indulge in those substances since their physical symptoms already make them seem as if they do. Click here for continue reading: http://outpatient-alcohol-rehab-centers.hpage.com/