Pubdate: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 Source: Kitchener-Waterloo Record (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 Kitchener-Waterloo Record Contact: http://www.therecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225 Author: Anne Kelly, Record Staff CAUGHT IN A VICIOUS CIRCLE Mental Illness Often Linked to Substance Use KITCHENER -- Teens facing the double whammy of mental illness and substance abuse drift toward different drugs, depending on their condition, says a local counsellor. Mark Bergen, a clinical social worker with Grand River Hospital's adolescent out-patient mental health program, said marijuana is the preferred drug among his teenage clients. Alcohol is a close second. "Marijuana is back on the rise again," Bergen said. "It seems to have gone up and down, but in the last five years, it's gone up." What's more significant is that although society accepts teens experimenting with alcohol, it's alcohol that results in more deaths, he said. Some of his teenage clients take magic mushrooms. Speed, also known as crystal meth, is gaining popularity. Bergen believes the use of such drugs as LSD and cocaine is declining, while heroin use isn't common because it's harder to get. Bergen said more than 50 per cent of the teens in therapy say they use illegal drugs or alcohol. "At times it's difficult to make a distinction between someone using them to cope or someone who has a concurrent disorder -- a psychiatric disorder and an addiction disorder," he said. The Grand River program treats youth whose problems range from clinical depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder to bi-polar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia. Bergen's seen youth as young as 13 who have had "a drug experience." He doesn't keep statistics, but he doesn't believe drug and alcohol use among teens generally is increasing. "For us, it seems fairly consistent." People suffering from clinical depression may be more attracted to alcohol, Bergen said. "It depresses the depression and creates a loss of inhibitions." But people may also drink to deal with anxiety or panic disorders, whereas "people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may be more attracted to marijuana or hashish because it makes them less hyper." The downside is they may become paranoid if they continue to smoke it. Crystal meth, known formally as methamphetamine, is also used by teens with ADHD. Although it is a powerful stimulant to the central nervous system, it has the opposite effect on that group, actually calming them down. Other people take crystal meth to stay awake, drink longer or lose weight, he said. Some use alcohol or marijuana to help them sleep or deal with suicidal thoughts. For young people at risk of schizophrenia, an illness which shows up in early adulthood, drugs like LSD or Ecstasy are particularly dangerous. They can accelerate the onset of the disease by prompting a first psychosis, characterized by hallucinations and delusions. Another drug popular with teens, magic mushrooms, contains compounds that are hallucinogenic and -- in high doses -- can cause trips similar to those of LSD, causing loss of reality, severe paranoia and anxiety. Its use is not specific to certain types of mental illness, Bergen said. Teens with addictions are typically referred to St. Mary's Counselling Services or Homewood Health Centre in Guelph until they are stabilized. Then they may transfer to Grand River's out-patient program to get help for their mental health problems. Confidentiality is an important part of the process, he said. Legislation gives anyone age 12 and up the right to seek therapy without parental knowledge or involvement. Bergen said Grand River's program has had success by reaffirming with its young patients the importance of a healthy lifestyle. "They want to feel better. Most kids are willing to give it a chance," he said. "Once someone gets to know themselves without using (substances) and takes care of their emotional and mental health, they find they don't have to use anymore. "I think there is a trend toward our population in general, and adolescents, to accept the fact that they may have a problem with their emotional health. They're willing to do something about it. There's not as much stigma." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake