Dual Diagnosis Treatment

About 50 percent of people with a substance use disorder also have a mental health disorder, while the reverse is also true. A dual diagnosis is the term used when a person suffers from drug or alcohol addiction and a mental disorder at the same time.

Dual diagnosis therapy is available at America’s Rehab Campuses to help people successfully recover from and manage both conditions.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Speak to one of our treatment consultants today about dual diagnosis treatment at America’s Rehab Campuses.

What Is Dual Diagnosis Therapy?

A dual diagnosis is also known as co-occurring disorders, or comorbidity. Dual diagnosis therapy is made up of several behavioral therapies that are customized for each individual patient based on factors such as the person’s age and the substance being misused. These therapies are also sometimes combined with medications that treat both the substance use disorder and mental health disorder.

Therapies that may be used as part of dual diagnosis therapy include:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, which can help you modify and change negative beliefs and behaviors into those that are healthier and more positive.
  • Contingency management, or CM, which rewards you with vouchers when you practice healthy behaviors, such as staying abstinent from drugs and alcohol.
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, which helps you change and reduce harmful behaviors such as substance abuse, suicidal urges, and self-mutilation.
  • Community reinforcement approach, or CRA, which combines family therapy, vocational counseling, and recreational activities to help you see how a healthy, drug-free lifestyle is more rewarding than substance abuse.
  • Medications. Opioid and alcohol dependence can be treated using drug and alcohol detox medications like methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Mental health disorders may be treated using medications like antidepressants and antipsychotics.

What’s the Link Between Addiction and Mental Health Disorders?

Addiction is considered a mental health disorder due to the way it changes the brain both structurally and psychologically. Addiction can replace your basic needs and priorities with those that are more harmful and surround drug use. For example, someone addicted to alcohol may spend their entire paycheck on alcohol even though their rent or mortgage payment may be past due.

Impulsive behaviors such as these can be extremely difficult to control when you’re struggling with addiction. Those with mental health disorders share similar struggles when it comes to controlling impulses. The most common mental health disorders experienced by those with a dual diagnosis include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders.

What Comes First — Addiction or Mental Illness?

Chronic use of drugs and alcohol can trigger chemical imbalances in the brain that increase the risk for mental health disorders. For instance, long-term use of opioids can prevent your brain from producing dopamine on its own. Dopamine is a brain chemical associated with feelings of reward, pleasure, and happiness. When your brain stops producing dopamine, you may suffer depression due to not finding pleasure in things that once made you happy.

On the other hand, mood and anxiety disorders can often lead to addiction, especially when people use drugs and alcohol in an effort to numb or “cure” their symptoms. For example, someone who suffers from depression may turn to alcohol or stimulants, like meth and cocaine, to feel better about themselves. Relying on drugs and alcohol to improve symptoms of mental health disorders on a regular basis can eventually lead to dependence and addiction.

Dual Diagnosis Therapy With America’s Rehab Campuses

With dual diagnosis therapy, you can identify your personal triggers and learn strategies for overcoming them so you face a reduced risk for relapse. You’ll also achieve improved mental health and learn healthier ways to cope with stress and other symptoms of your mental health disorder.

America’s Rehab Campuses offers dual diagnosis therapy that we tailor to each individual patient. Our treatment program begins with a biopsychosocial and medical evaluation by one of our medical doctors and a psychologist. Your dual diagnosis therapy may include drug detox, medication-assisted treatment, inpatient rehab, partial hospitalization, or outpatient rehab.

Fill out our insurance verification form today or call 833-272-7342 to learn more about your benefits and deductibles for addiction treatment.