Substance Abuse and Learning Disabilities

The National Institute of Health estimates thatAs children and adolescents we spend almost half
about one in five people have a learning disabilityof each weekday in school and doing homework.
severe enough to interfere significantly withWhen there are learning disabilities, including
academic accomplishments. Yet, other researchprocessing problems, school becomes a
estimates that only about one in four of thesebattleground of failure. Failure breeds low
individuals with a learning disability receive properself-esteem, anxiety, depression, and, often,
treatment. Since we know that learning disabilitiesnormal peer rejection. Pain is a great motivator.
are usually genetic, parents may fail to seek helpMake no mistake about it. While creating other
for the very condition that impacted them.problems, drugs DO numb the pain. This is called
Unfortunately, adolescents who are unaware ofself-medication. Then, the person has a built-in
their learning disabilities are more likely to becomepeer group with which to socialize ... other drug
involved in substance abuse, which onlyusers.
exacerbates their problems in school. There is aAgain, while not every person with learning
higher incidence of substance abuse in the learningdisabilities turns to drug use, there is enough
disabled population than there is in the generalevidence to suggest those with learning disabilities
population. No one is exactly sure of the nature ofwho go untreated are much more likely to
the relationship between the two, but there arebecome involved with substance abuse than
logical hypotheses that are being researched.those who are treated.
Do drugs cause school failure or does schoolChildren and adolescents with untreated learning
failure cause drug use? It would be an interestingdisabilities and substance abuse issues grow up to
debate, but the bottom line is the two are inbe adults with learning disabilities and substance
some way very much connected. Yet, notabuse issues. While the physiological effects of
everyone with learning disabilities is involved withdrugs on the developing body and brain are more
drugs. There has to be a reason. For those whosevere, the life effects on an adult can often be
do fall victim to substance abuse, propermuch worse.
treatment is an important element of recovery.With proper standard psycho-educational
Durazzo et al, 2008;43(6):683-691, 2008assessments and such modern technologies as
Oxford University Press, discovered that alcoholthe DESA (Digital EEG Spectral Analysis), fMRI
abusers with processing deficits were 14.2 times(functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and
more likely to relapse with alcohol than alcoholicsSPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed
with normal processing. This presents a veryTomography) scans, the learning disabilities and
compelling reason to test for such learningprocessing problems can be clearly identified. Once
disabilities.identified, the individual's treatment regimen must
For any substance abuse program or treatmentinclude the remediation of the problems if it is to
center to be truly effective the underlying issueshave any chances of sustained success.
of substance abuse must be clearly identified andSubstance abuse and learning disabilities create
re-mediated. Dual diagnosis should not only includepsychological problems. It is a three-headed
substance abuse and psychological problems but,monster. When only two of the three are slain, it
given the high incidence of substance abuse withis still very much alive and capable of inflicting
learning disabilities, should also include learninggreat harm. Certainly, identifying the problems
problems. This, in essence, creates a tripleearly in childhood and adolescence is the ideal, but
diagnosis program. Sobriety always comes firstit is never too late. Adults with learning disabilities
since, as those in the addiction field often tout,can benefit from proper diagnosis as well.
"You can't do therapy on a drug." The cloud andCopyright 2009 Yellen & Associates All rights
fog need to go away before any serious workreserved.
can be done.