The Connection Between Drug Addiction and Brain Trauma

July 17, 2012

A huge percentage of professional athletes – boxers, football players, hockey players, etc. – suffer from drug addiction, as compared to other professions. They are also more likely to suffer from brain trauma due to the nature of their jobs. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is the official name for that brain trauma, and many believe that frequent blows to the head over time build up and contribute to the development of addiction, which is why it’s so prevalent among these athletes.

Is brain trauma an underlying issue for you or someone you care about struggling with drug addiction?

The Connection of Brain Trauma to Addiction

Signs of CTE in athletes include confusion, lack of impulse control, headaches, disorientation and more. The negative feelings and lack of impulse control are important, because these are often issues that cause people to try drugs – and be unable to stop. Many drink or abuse drugs in an attempt to self-medicate the psychological and emotional issues caused by the brain trauma, and then the lack of impulse control (also caused by the brain trauma) makes it difficult for them to avoid developing an addiction.

Identifying CTE and Addiction

It may not be easy to recognize the signs of brain trauma in someone you love. The changes in mood and temperament may not be noticed for a time or may be attributed to an outside trigger. For example, if you are in a car accident with a family member and that family member dies, then the changes in personality may be attributed to the loss of the loved one and not to the brain injury that was caused by the accident.

However, the signs of drug addiction may be more noticeable. You may see your loved one’s friends change, their appearance change, their attitude toward everything and everyone around them change. They may lie about their whereabouts, rarely have money, become extremely private, and seem to explode violently at little provocation. All of these can be signs that drug abuse and/or addiction is an issue and can signal you that it’s time to intervene and suggest drug rehab.

Effective Drug Rehabilitation Should Address All Issues

Drug addiction treatment is the primary focus of drug rehab, but the most effective treatment programs should also address mental health issues and medical issues, like those associated with brain trauma. If you are ready to embark on the kind of treatment that will help your loved one move forward, contact us at Michael’s House today.