Did you know that substance abuse disorders and mental illness often occur together? In fact, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 1 in 4 adults living with a seriousmental healthproblem also has a substance use problem.
If you or someone you love is struggling with a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health condition, you can benefit from dual diagnosis treatment. This type of treatment is known for being effective at addressing the root cause of addiction and, as a result, reducing the chance of relapse. In this article, you’ll learn more aboutdual diagnosis and the benefits it provides.
What is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
Dual diagnosis treatment addresses any co-occurring mental health conditions as well as drug and alcohol addiction. Many individuals who experience substance use disorder also have a mental illness. Rather than focusing on just the addiction, dual diagnosis takes an integrated approach that addresses the entire person as a whole.
This type of treatment in drug rehab uses a variety of therapies, including (but not limited to) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and therapies. Sessions take place over the course of several weeks and months in individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy sessions. Treatment typically begins afterdetox and can take place in either an outpatient rehab program or aresidential treatment program.
Benefits of Dual Diagnosis Treatment
As mentioned, dual diagnosis treatment can be extremely effective for helping those with substance use disorders reach sobriety in the long term. The specific benefits include the below:
Addresses a Variety of Mental Health Conditions
A key component of a dual diagnosis treatment center program is addressing not only drug addiction but also any co-occurring mental health disorder. This can include the following conditions:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Bipolar Disorder
- Mood Disorders
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Eating Disorders
- OCD
- And many others
Addresses the Drug or Alcohol Addiction
Dual diagnosis treatment works to help you identify any triggers you might have for drug use and provide you with healthy coping skills that you can use throughout life.
Improves Mental Health
By addressing both a mental illness and drug or alcohol addiction, your mental health will naturally improve over time. Individuals who receive dual diagnosis treatment ultimately gain a much deeper understanding of themselves.
Provides a Faster Recovery Time
Dual diagnosis treatment gets to the root cause of the addiction. Therefore, individuals often have faster recovery times with this specific type of treatment. That also means having a reduced chance of relapse and a greater likelihood of maintaining sobriety for the long term.
Reduces Chances of Being Hospitalized
According toSAMHSA people with co-occurring disorders are more likely to be hospitalized than those with only a mental health condition or substance use disorder. By receiving dual diagnosis treatment, individuals receive the support and care they need from an experienced medical team who specializes in mental health conditions and substance abuse. Individuals can then receive services that are personalized for their specific situation, treating both the physical and emotional elements of their overall health.
Reduces Medication Interactions
Dual diagnosis treatment involves a thorough evaluation and assessment by a medical professional, taking into account any and all drugs and prescribed medications someone might be taking to cope with a mental health condition. This evaluation helps the team of mental health professionals in the addiction treatment program understand any potential drug interactions that might be occurring and enables the team to create a safe treatment plan that eliminates these interactions. The care team is also able to ensure any prescribed medications for the mental health condition will not interact with any medications used during drug detox.
Increases Chance of Successful Addiction Treatment
By treating both substance use disorder and mental health conditions simultaneously, the chances of having a successful addiction treatment (and not relapsing) are much higher compared to treating only one of these conditions. When mental health conditions are not addressed in addiction treatment, individuals are at risk of using drugs again as a way of coping with the symptoms of the mental illness. This can cause a dangerous cycle and exacerbate any mental health disorders or mental health issues. Dual diagnosis breaks this cycle and increases the overall effectiveness of addiction treatment.
Improves Quality of Life
Dual diagnosis treatment can significantly improve an individual’s quality of life. Through the use of various evidence-based therapies and humanistic therapies (in both group and individual settings), individuals learn how to more effectively manage their mental health symptoms and triggers to use drugs or alcohol. Thisintegrated approachprovides individuals with skills to better emotionally regulate, reduce anxiety, improve their mood, and end the harmful cycle of drug addiction. As a result, individuals feel emotionally and physically better in their day-to-day life.
Early intervention with mental illness and drug use is very important and can increase the chance of a successful recovery. However, even if both conditions have been co-occurring for years, help is still available at dual diagnosis treatment programs. With the right support team and resources in place, it is possible to reclaim your life.
Start Dual Diagnosis Treatment Today at Luxe Treatment Center
AtLuxe Treatment Centerwe focus on utilizing evidence-based humanistic therapies and treatment plans that take a whole-person approach with our clients rather than simply treating people with addictions. If you’re ready to take the next step toward drug and alcohol addiction recovery, our team is here to help you begin healing.
