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Mental Health . • Substance
<br /> Mental Health and Substance Use, including Tobacco
<br /> Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect one's mood,thinking, and behavior.
<br /> Broad classes of mental illness include mood disorders(depression, bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders,
<br /> psychotic disorders(schizophrenia), eating disorders, personality adaptations or disorders,and addictive
<br /> behaviors/substance abuse disorders.A variety of genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the onset
<br /> of illness including inherited traits, biological factors, life experiences,and brain chemistry.Stress is also a
<br /> significant factor to one's mental health.Stress contributes to the likelihood of the emergence of mental health
<br /> disorders. Poverty and violence are both sources of stress.
<br /> Mental disorders and substance abuse disorders may be caused by a combination of these factors,complicating
<br /> efforts to understand how to prevent them. If these conditions go undiagnosed or untreated,they can have
<br /> serious consequences leading to disrupted daily functioning,failure in school, reduced productivity,
<br /> unemployment, disability,social isolation,family conflicts,addiction,or suicide.
<br /> Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that follows a predictable and progressive course that may result in death
<br /> if left untreated.Treatment of substance abuse disorders costs Medicaid hundreds of millions of dollars
<br /> annually in medical care,suggesting that early interventions for substance abuse could enhance positive
<br /> treatment outcomes and save considerable amounts of money.
<br /> If symptoms are recognized and treated early, many of the distressing and disabling effects of a mental illness and
<br /> substance dependence may be prevented or minimized. Prevention efforts need to be focused on reducing access
<br /> and availability to substances, identifying stressors,establishing screening processes for high risk and early onset
<br /> of problems, and increasing knowledge on how to access early intervention and crisis services.
<br /> Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in North Carolina. Lung cancer is the leading cause
<br /> of cancer death among both men and women. Smokers are at increased risk for at least 15 types of cancers,
<br /> including oral,esophageal, pancreatic,cervical, bladder,stomach,and kidney cancers. In addition,smoking is also
<br /> a major cause of heart disease,cerebrovascular disease,chronic bronchitis,and emphysema,and is associated
<br /> with gastric ulcers.Smokers are more likely to experience heart attacks and strokes.
<br /> Environmental risk factors,such as easy access and availability of tobacco products,cigarette advertising and
<br /> promotion,and affordable prices for tobacco products, make smoking among young people more common.
<br /> Non-smokers are also at risk from the dangers of inhaling secondhand
<br /> smoke.There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
<br /> Secondhand smoke exposure can cause premature death,and has been
<br /> linked to heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmokers.Youth exposure
<br /> to secondhand smoke can lead to hindered lung development, respiratory
<br /> and ear infections, and asthma.
<br /> 8 ( Orange County Community Health Assessment-Executive Summary
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