Medical issues, not bad behavior, are more telling when it comes to addressing addiction and getting to the root of the problem.
No, we’re not just using the troubled celeb as a cautionary tale. We believe that Lindsay Lohan’s life – beyond just her tabloid-worthy bad behavior – have something to teach us about the origins of addiction. By focusing on her medical conditions and symptoms we can gain insight into the bigger problem of substance abuse. As Lohan prepares for her Playboy spread, it’s easy to get caught up in debating her current decisions, but let’s look at the medical issues she has to overcome instead.
What we’re after is the type of information an intake counselor gathers when someone is entering a treatment program in order to put together a medical history that doctors and treatment specialists use to formulate a treatment plan. In doing an intake exam, Lohan should certainly mention ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. While she doesn’t actually suffer from this condition, she did receive a diagnosis at one time, and that diagnosis probably came with a hefty supply of Adderall. Use and abuse of this drug in those who don’t need it can have severe negative effects, including (ironically) hyperactivity and manic behavior. Could ADHD drugs be to blame for some of Lohan’s more outlandish behavior? Could a dependence on these drugs have led her to move on to “bigger and better” drugs? They are questions that treatment staff would certainly want to explore. (more…)
Seasonal depression can be dangerous, especially for those with addiction issues. 
More people are suffering with mental issues than previously thought, and those issues, especially when untreated, can contribute to addiction problems. 
