Dr. Keith Garcia, our medical director, brings decades of experience to his role. We know that there’s a relationship between substance use disorder and many mental health concerns. Either one of these issues may contribute to the other, either through the Dual Diagnosis: Substance Abuse And Co-occurring Disorders development of a new issue or making an existing one more intense.
Addiction Treatment Resources
Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), helps individuals develop coping strategies, manage triggers, and modify unhealthy thought patterns. Medication management can assist in stabilizing mental health symptoms or addressing substance withdrawal symptoms. The unaddressed underlying issues may perpetuate a cycle of substance abuse as individuals struggle to manage their symptoms effectively. Recognizing the interplay between mental health and substance abuse is vital in providing comprehensive treatment to address both aspects simultaneously.
Complexities in diagnosing co-occurring disorders
But your provider will use a wide range of screening tools to test you for both conditions. An example of a dual diagnosis is having major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder at the same time. If you or a loved one are seeking recovery services that accept your medical insurance, reach out to Infinite Recovery today.
What Is Dual Diagnosis? Mental Health and Addiction Explained
- Conversely, those with a substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder are more prone to co-occurring mental health disorders than those in the general population.
- The relationship between mental illness and addiction is bidirectional, meaning one can exacerbate the other.
- The combination of mental health disorders and substance abuse significantly amplifies these risks.
- Open dialogue, active listening, and providing emotional support can make a significant difference in an individual’s recovery.
For individuals struggling with substance abuse, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) may be incorporated to help manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with opioid or alcohol use disorders. Levels of care and types of programs are chosen by a dual diagnosis treatment team based on individual needs for mental health and substance abuse recovery. A dual diagnosis is a mental health condition and drug or alcohol addiction that occurs at the same time. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) states that people with a mental illness are more likely to experience a substance use disorder than those who do not have a mental illness.
Dual diagnosis treatment means treating both addiction and mental illness together. It is crucial for someone with co-occurring conditions to receive dual diagnosis care to have the best possible treatment outcome. Support groups can take various forms, such as 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), as well as non-12-step groups focused on addressing specific mental health conditions. These groups offer a safe space for individuals to discuss their struggles, gain valuable insights, and build a network of support. This team assesses the individual’s unique needs, develops an individualized treatment plan, and monitors progress throughout the recovery journey. Furthermore, dual diagnosis treatment recognizes that each individual’s needs are unique.
By scheduling an initial assessment with our treatment staff, we can help you determine which type of treatment program may be right for you. We can also field any questions you may have about accepted insurance and assist in travel arrangements for patients traveling from out-of-state. Throughout your treatment, treatment professionals may continue to monitor your symptoms for any changes. This can give your treatment team a better idea of what type of treatment you may need to achieve and sustain long-term recovery.
Also, specific therapies have shown better outcomes for certain dual diagnosis treatments. Dual diagnosis treatment has been shown to improve treatment outcomes for individuals with co-occurring disorders. By addressing both addiction and mental health conditions simultaneously, individuals have a greater chance of achieving sustainable recovery. Treating one condition without addressing the other often leads to relapse or incomplete recovery. Conversely, substance abuse can also contribute to the development of mental health conditions.
Trauma-informed care
In the short term, substances like drugs and alcohol serve as a temporary escape, offering a distraction, a path to numbness, forgetting, and, depending on https://edsuk.co.uk/best-alcohol-recovery-blogs-12step-org-directory/ the substances being used, euphoria. It is often the case that individuals continue to abuse substances without making a connection between their drinking or drug-taking and mental health – all they know is they are in pain and want to feel better. Because dual diagnosis is not a special case for select people, it’s a common issue that many people face. And while it is an incredibly challenging issue, you can get better with proper treatment and support.
Dual diagnosis refers to a simultaneous substance use disorder and serious mental health condition. Dual diagnosis calls for integrated treatment addressing both of these interconnected issues simultaneously, something you can achieve at Renaissance Recovery. If you are looking into substance abuse treatment options, you may have come across the term “dual diagnosis” and asked yourself “what is dual diagnosis”. Outpatient medication-assisted treatment has higher retention rates of patients in recovery than other formats.
If left untreated, this can be a vicious cycle that can lead to serious problems. Community resources and organizations dedicated to dual diagnosis support also play a crucial Twelve-step program role in providing information, referrals, and counseling services. If you’re wondering what is dual diagnosis in mental health, chances are you—or someone you care about—might be affected by it.