Disabilities, Issues in Prevention and Treatment

Risk Factors

PWD are at a greater risk of AOD abuse because of a number of variables. Such variables may include social stigma, easy access to AOD, self-perception, desires to avoid reality, myths, lack of knowledge, medication and health problems, a lack of identification of potential problems, and a lack of accessible and appropriate prevention and treatment services. Additionally, individuals with congenital or acquired disabilities have easy access to prescription drugs for legitimate medical reasons, such as chronic pain or muscle spasms. As a result, the ability of PWD to self-medicate, coupled with other physiological, emotional, or environmental factors, makes the progression from use to abuse quite likely for this group. Other contributing factors appear to be frustration, oppression, or social isolation that some PWD experience, and as a result, they may seek solace through abusing AOD. Lastly, to avoid confrontation, the attitudes of family, friends, health care professionals, and others may implicitly condone [Page 287]AOD abuse by PWD. Despite their higher risk, PWD access AOD treatment at a much lower rate than people without disabilities. Disability groups that have been associated with an inclination toward AOD abuse include those with (a) mental retardation, (b) learning disabilities, (c) hearing impairments, (d) visual impairments, (e) physical disabilities, and (f) mental illness.

Mental Retardation

There is a noticeable absence in the literature related to individuals with mental retardation and AOD abuse. However, several variables warrant further exploration of this relationship within this group. First, as more people with mild to moderate mental retardation reside in communities with their non-mentally retarded peers, opportunities to engage in high-risk behaviors (AOD abuse) increase. Second, individuals with mental retardation possess cognitive deficits and limitations that may influence their decisions in the social domain. Third, although the research examining individuals with mental retardation and AOD abuse is scarce, the extant data have indicated that people with mental retardation engage in substance use and experience negative consequences. Factors affecting substance use include age, gender, degree of retardation, and residential arrangement (individual, family, or group home).

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