The amount of homeless individuals throughout the United States is increasing every year. Those who are younger are showing a higher number of homeless than ever before. The strong association with homelessness and addiction puts these individuals at increased risk for succumbing to their addiction and potentially losing their life to the substance they are abusing. It is an almost never-ending circle where those that are addicts engage in risky behaviors that don’t support their livelihoods and ultimately end up homeless. Then these people stay homeless to increase their substance consumption. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, almost 40 percent of homeless individuals are alcoholics while almost 30 percent are dependant on other illicit substances.
The harsh realities of the lifestyle of living on the streets can have countless negative impacts on an individual. The struggles to find nourishment, being malnourished, potentially ill, and isolated from those that love and support you, in combination with constantly being on guard for fear of safety make for a very stressful life situation. Often, those who are homeless are additionally struggling with mental illness which is intensified by the impact of living on the streets.
Mental Illness, Addiction, and Vagrancy
It is believed that as many as 33 percent of all the homeless individuals on the streets are also struggling with a psychological disorder. It is quite common for a well-intended individual who is battling mental illness to begin to use drugs or alcohol as a way to combat the symptoms of the disease and end up getting hooked and becoming addicted. When addiction and mental illness are tearing an individual apart, their ability to attend to and take care of themselves daily becomes greatly reduced. Homelessness for these individuals may almost be inevitable. In the homeless population, some common mental diseases are seen including:
- Bipolar disorder
- Paranoia/Delusions
- Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Major depressive disorder
- Intense anxiety
Drug And Alcohol Alternative Treatment Center In Tennessee
Dependency can happen for a variety of reasons. When a dual diagnosis of mental disorders and addiction are present the cycle of self-medicating to treat the symptoms is an ongoing recipe for disaster. If you or a loved one is struggling and on the brink of losing your livelihood, or if you have already lost yourself to addiction, the medical detox and addiction alternative treatment center at Discovery Place can help. We will examine each aspect that plays a part in affecting a person’s behavior. At our alternative treatment center, you aren’t a number and you aren’t a patient. You are a guest who is welcome and greatly cared for. Located in the serene countryside of Tennessee, Discovery Place Tennessee addiction alternative treatment center’s team is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We don’t judge, we offer support, care, and help to those that need it the most and are battling through addiction. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by reaching out. Call our Tennessee detox alternative treatment center anytime day or night at 1-800-725-0922 to get the answers you need and the help you deserve.
