Mental Health and SUD — A Co-Occurring Disorder on the Rise Since 2020
While we are still experiencing the backlash of COVID-19, America has certainly seen an increase in the number of overdose deaths as a result of isolation and lack of support for those individuals with mental health and substance use disorders (SUD). From May 2019 to May 2020 there were over 81,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States in the 12 months ending in May 2020, which the CDC recorded as the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period. The data is alarming and now is the time for the U.S. to provide better access to treatment.
Over one in four adults who have mental health issues also have a substance use problem. The connection between mental illness and SUD has been well documented – It is referred to as a comorbidity or co-occurring disorder. They are defined as an individual who has more than one disorder and if left untreated, can often worsen the effect of one or both diseases. Common mental health issues that co-occur with addiction include anxiety and mood disorders, Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, conduct disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). [Learn More]
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Jennifer Holling is a Community Justice Manager with the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice in Portland, OR. She has worked in the community corrections field for 16 years with a focus on building teams and streamlining processes. Jennifer is passionate about records and administrative work, and currently manages a highly skilled team of records and admin professionals. Jennifer stated that she is participating in the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) Leadership Institute to highlight the great work of records and admin staff within their organizations, as well as advocate for increased involvement at APPA.
Drug Trends — Diphenhydramine
Officer Jermaine Galloway, better known as "The Tall Cop," is an ongoing featured contributor to the Averhealth Digest on drug trends —providing you with highlights of street drug trends your clients may be using. If you are testing for the same drugs day after day, you are probably missing the drugs being used! Learn how to stay current on the most recent drug trends and how your drug testing program plays an integral role in your clients' recovery process. This month, Officer Galloway discusses Diphenhydramine and its rise in popularity.
In recent years, this drug has increased in popularity among many drug seekers. Diphenhydramine comes under many brand names, including Benadryl. You may also see this drug labeled as a generic “sleep aid”. Diphenhydramine is a popular, easy-to-get, and many times, an inexpensive drug.
Diphenhydramine is a synthetic antihistamine. It is commonly used as an allergy medication, antihistamine, sleep aid, cold medication, nausea reducer, motion sickness and more. Diphenhydramine in a depressant and over-the-counter drug that comes in a capsule, tab, or liquid form.
Why is Diphenhydramine so popular?
Over the last couple of years, I have received several questions about the street-level drug abuse of Diphenhydramine / Benadryl in schools, and on our streets. For instance, during a drug training in the northwest, I had a police officer highlight his observation of multiple boxes of Benadryl, at the scene of an impaired driving crash where various drug use, was suspected, including Kratom (see the Tall Cop Kratom handout).
For many of those who take Diphenhydramine for medical use, generally 1 tablet is 25 milligrams (but can sometimes be 50 milligrams). For those who are looking for a drug high, we are seeing dosing upwards of 500 milligrams, which can be fatal. During one recent class, a local health official shared that they had an individual who dosed Diphenhydramine around 1,100 milligrams and it ended up being fatal.
Along with using Diphenhydramine by itself in high doses, others will dangerously mix Diphenhydramine with alcohol, benzodiazepines or other depressants.
In schools, we have seen youth use “dryl” in high doses to try to reach a hallucination-like high. This can be achieved for some when used in very dangerous high doses…several hundred milligrams. In 2020, the FDA sent out a warning about the “Benadryl Challenge” where they highlighted the dangers of large doses of Benadryl:
“We are aware of news reports of teenagers ending up in emergency rooms or dying after participating in the “Benadryl Challenge” encouraged in videos posted on the social media application TikTok.” Source: FDA
Diphenhydramine is that drug that might not stand out in plain sight. Like many of the OTC’s (over-the-counter drugs) it can be dangerous in high doses.
Trainer Info
Tall Cop Says Stop is a national & international trainer who has trained over 500,000 people. Learn more: www.tallcopsaysstop.com
Industry News
How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Recreational Drug Use?
Recreational drug use denotes the occasional intake of licit or illicit drugs during periods of leisure time and for the purposes of enjoyment. This article considers how the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), which is the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has affected recreational drug use. [Learn More]
COVID-19’s Continuing Toll: Increasing Alcohol Use and Liver Disease Disproportionately Affect Women
Substantial increases in mental health concerns and substance abuse have been widely noted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public survey results have demonstrated elevated rates of depression and anxiety after the crisis began, and other research has revealed drastic increases in cases of drug overdose and related deaths.
Alcohol consumption has increased considerably in the context of COVID-19. There was a 54% surge in national alcohol sales during the first week of the pandemic, and subsequent reports indicated persistent increases in rates of alcohol intake. A survey-based study published in September 2020 in JAMA Network Open found that the frequency of alcohol consumption increased by 14% overall among US adults during the period of May 28 to June 16, 2020, when compared with a baseline period during the previous year. [Learn More]
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