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
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