Mental health issues often coincide with substance abuse. When you have an untreated mental health disorder, you are more likely to begin abusing drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication. Over time, your substance use can turn into an addiction.
When you have mental health issues and an addiction at the same time, this is known as co-occurring disorders. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “approximately 21.5 million adults in the United States have a co-occurring disorder.”[1]
Co-occurring mental health conditions and addiction must be treated at the same time, and dual diagnosis treatment centers were created for this reason. These programs combine drug and alcohol addiction treatment with mental health care.
Attending a dual diagnosis treatment center can save your life, but you must choose a reputable program. When picking a dual diagnosis treatment center in Mullica Hill, NJ, you want to choose one that offers personalized care, clinically proven substance use treatment, evidence-based therapies, and medication management. You also want to make sure the program offers the level of care you need.
In this article, you will learn:
- What is a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder?
- Which mental health disorders are connected to addiction?
- How to choose a reputable dual diagnosis treatment center in Mullica Hill
What are Co-Occurring Disorders?
Many people who develop a substance use disorder have an underlying mental health disorder. To explain, when the symptoms of your mental health condition are unmanaged, they can be difficult to cope with. As a result, you might begin to abuse drugs and alcohol to make yourself feel better in the short term.
Over time, this causes you to develop a substance use disorder on top of your mental illness. As a result, you meet the criteria for co-occurring disorders.
Having a mental illness and addiction can make recovery complicated. The symptoms of each disorder exacerbate one another, making it harder to manage daily life. This is why you need to attend a dual diagnosis treatment center, which offers a comprehensive treatment program that includes services for mental health and addiction at the same time.
What Mental Health Disorders are Connected to Addiction?
Any mental health condition can occur at the same time as a substance use disorder. That said, some mental illnesses are more likely to be connected to addiction.
According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), there are high rates of substance use disorders co-occurring with a variety of anxiety conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
It is also common for addiction to co-occur with high prevalence depression and bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), psychotic disorders, borderline personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder.
Additionally, people with schizophrenia have higher rates of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use disorders than the general population.[2]
If you believe you have co-occurring substance abuse and a mental health condition like bipolar disorder or anxiety disorders, it’s time to seek professional help. Dual diagnosis treatment centers can help you achieve long-term recovery by offering a variety of treatment options like medical detox, evidence-based therapy, holistic care, and relapse prevention planning. These programs offer the tools and support you need to overcome your co-occurring conditions.
How to Choose the Best Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program in New Jersey
If you want to live a fulfilling life, you’ll need to seek treatment for your co-occurring substance abuse and mental health. Children, young adults, and older adults can receive care in a dual diagnosis treatment program. Your healing journey starts as soon as you enter one of these treatment facilities.
When choosing a dual diagnosis treatment center in Mullica Hill, you should look for:
Individualized Treatment Planning
The recovery process varies from person to person. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach, the best dual diagnosis treatment centers offer personalized care to help you overcome your substance abuse problem and mental illness.
This is done by completing an in-depth assessment to determine your physical and mental health as well as your history of drug and alcohol abuse. The information gathered will be used to create an individualized treatment plan.
Your plan could include things like how long you need treatment, what type of recovery program is best for you, whether you need specialty care like trauma-informed treatment, and what services will meet your needs.
Clinically-Proven Addiction Treatment Services
Dual diagnosis rehab centers in Mullica Hill offer addiction treatment services as part of their program. You want to pick a facility that uses clinically proven or evidence-based treatment.
For substance use disorders, this involves services like:
- Medical detox
- Individual therapy
- Group counseling
- Psychoeducational support groups
- Relapse prevention planning
- Holistic support
- Aftercare
Evidence-Based Behavioral Health Treatment
The other part of the equation in terms of dual diagnosis treatment is mental health care. The type of therapy you engage in will depend on what mental illness you have, however, the best dual diagnosis treatment centers use evidence-based behavioral therapies.
For example, if you have depression, an evidence-based therapy would be cognitive behavioral therapy for depression (CBT-D). On the other hand, dialectical behavior therapy is indicated for conditions like substance use disorders, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more.[3] Some people might require family support, which means you should consider attending a dual diagnosis treatment center that offers family behavior therapy.
Medication Management for Mental Illness
For many people, medication is an important part of the recovery journey. If you have a mental illness like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, some of your symptoms cannot be managed through psychotherapy. Instead, medication is necessary to balance chemicals in your brain.
Dual diagnosis recovery centers in Mullica Hill may offer medication management. In this treatment method, your treatment team will work with a psychiatrist to determine what type of medication is right for you. Because they are also treating addiction, none of the medications used will be habit-forming.
Patient safety is also prioritized, which means you will only receive one dose of your medication at a time. This prevents you from attempting to abuse your medication to get high or harm yourself.
Consider Level of Care
Lastly, you want to consider the level of care when you are choosing a dual diagnosis treatment center. To explain, there are a variety of options when it comes to dual diagnosis care, including inpatient and outpatient programs.
The types of outpatient programs offered include:
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs)
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs)
- Outpatient programs (OPs)
If you need 24/7 care and supervision, you should choose inpatient treatment. On the other hand, if you have to continue working or caring for outside responsibilities, you might want to pick a partial hospitalization program or an intensive outpatient program.
Get Connected to a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Mullica Hill, NJ Today
If you or a loved one suffers from co-occurring disorders, it’s time to attend a dual diagnosis recovery center. At Lifetime Recovery, we offer compassionate care with an evidence-based and holistic approach, which means your recovery will be well-rounded. If you are entering treatment, we will provide you with the support you need to adjust to the recovery process.
Our addiction and mental health professionals are master’s level clinicians, which means you’ll receive the high level of care that you deserve. Contact us today for more information on how our dual diagnosis treatment center in Mullica Hill can help you achieve recovery.
References:
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Co-Occurring Disorders and Other Health Conditions
- The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Evidence-Based Treatment
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