What Caused Son of Senator to Attempt a Murder Suicide?

Photo Via the Associated Press

Today Virginia senator Creigh Deeds made headlines after his son (pictured with the banjo above) stabbed him several times in the chest and face before shooting and killing himself. This tragic incident comes just one day after Austin Deeds, Creigh Deeds’ son, underwent an evaluation and was released from a psychiatric hospital because they reportedly had no beds available.

This attempted murder suicide raises important questions about the downward spiral of Deeds’ son who left college last month after experiencing psychiatric problems prominent enough to cause him or his family to seek a psychiatric evaluation for him yesterday.

Many are now questioning the status of Virginia’s mental health system and how someone capable of an attempted murder suicide could’ve been released. Many say that the state needs mental health funding and reform - particularly for the shortage of beds for those in real crisis.

And Austin Deeds was in crisis, as Mary Ann Bergeron the Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards confirmed that Rockbridge officials were calling hospitals in the area looking for a bed for Austin; “I can tell you right now, it was multiple hospitals that they called. That is a very rural area. The hospitals are few and far between.” Bergeron added that hospitals have even eliminated psychiatric wards because of limited funding, making it hard for people like Austin who obviously required involuntary detention on Monday.

Tonight investigators said they were putting together the sequence of events and motive behind the attempted murder and successful suicide, which began with a fight between Sen. Deeds and his son. Fortunately Sen. Deeds was said to be in fair condition Tuesday night after being airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville and undergoing surgery.

Commenting on this story on CNN, Dr. Drew informed viewers that psychiatric illness and substance abuse disorders that lead to psychiatric problems become apparent in men most commonly between the ages of 18-24. Austin Deeds was just 24 years old and it is unclear yet if substance abuse played a role.

Why Do Addicts Continue Abusing Drugs?

Fear of sadness can motivate drug use

What drives addicts to use more drugs?

The common perception is that addicts are driven to use more drugs or alcohol to get high or drunk but anecdotal accounts - and recent research - may indicate another reason.

Many drug abusers say they continue to use because they are afraid of getting physically or emotionally sick. Opiate addicts say they continue to take prescription drugs or use heroin because they don't want to experience withdrawals. They continue to use to "feel normal" and avoid getting sick while many alcoholics say they continue to drink to avoid the shakes or delirium tremors (DTs).

Recent research by Rutgers University Department of Psychology indicates that similar reasons drive cocaine users to keep using - they fear the emotional lows that came with withdrawing from cocaine and continue to use to feel normal. Rutgers Professor Mark West, and doctoral student David Barker discovered through animal studies that the “high” of drug use from cocaine is short lived and is “quickly replaced by negative emotional responses whenever drug levels begin to fall," propelling them to use more.

To inform their study they used rats that required more cocaine when they started to feel negative emotions (evident through their high pitched cries). They say that animals are important for drug testing studies because humans may not give reliable or truthful answers to questions about drug abuse. West and Baker concluded that negative emotions largely motivate cocaine abuse and can therefore play an important role in regulating cocaine abuse and the abuse of other substances.

In our Colorado addiction treatment programs here at Harmony we have seen that addiction usually starts by wanting to chase a high and ends with the need to continue drug use to avoid dealing with withdrawal, sickness, negative emotions or any emotions at all. That is why we have a comprehensive detoxification program followed by group and individual therapy that help clients cope with all emotions - negative or otherwise - and help them "feel normal" without drugs or alcohol.