If you or someone you love suffers from mental health issues and substance abuse at the same time, a dual diagnosis rehab center can help you overcome or manage your drug use and mental illness at the same time. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 6.7% of US adults (17 million people) suffer from a co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD), a medical condition characterized by the Uncontrollable substance use despite negative consequences is set to 2020.1
More than 25% of people who suffer from SUDs also struggle with mental health disorders.2There are several reasons for this. Sometimes certain medications trigger mental health symptoms when addiction develops.2Others with mental health issues may turn to substances to control symptoms or self-medicate.2And still others with mental health disorders and SUDs may find the same root cause for both diagnoses — including neurobiological, genetic, or trauma-related factors.2
What does dual diagnosis mean?
A dual diagnosis occurs when someone meets criteria for a substance use disorder and is diagnosed with one or more mental health disorders.3Dual diagnosis is often referred to as a concurrent illness. While these terms can refer to any number of co-occurring mental illnesses, the terms most commonly refer to individuals who suffer from mental illnesses and LDS.3In that case, any condition could be termed a comorbidity, although the term comorbidity is also used outside the field of mental health to describe the co-existence of multiple medical problems.4
Dual diagnostic tests and assessments
Dual diagnoses are common. Therefore, individuals screened for SUDs should also be screened for psychiatric problems; Consequently, people undergoing treatment for mental illness should be screened for substance abuse.10Assessment can be performed using laboratory screening, self-reporting, and questionnaires or screening tools, which sometimes incorporate information from family and friends.10
Signs You May Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Assessment of a co-occurring mental disorderand addiction can be tricky because of the significant overlap between symptoms.5,13,14For example, some withdrawal symptoms resemble the symptoms of some mental illnesses.11To avoid confusion — and potential misdiagnosis — a mental health diagnosis is ideally made after a period of abstinence, when there are no medications in the person's system.5
Signs of a mental disorder
Symptoms and signs can vary depending on the diagnosis and severity, but some common signs of mental illness can include:13
- Often feeling worried or anxious.
- Giving up hobbies or activities that were once important.
- Experience extreme mood swings or ups and downs.
- Having trouble concentrating, paying attention and concentrating.
- Strong feelings of anger or irritability.
- Isolate or avoid social activities and friends.
- Changes in sleeping and eating habits.
- Increased or decreased libido.
- Loss of touch with reality, such as hallucinations or delusions.
- Lack of insight to recognize changes in someone's feelings or behavior.
- Suffering from physical ailments such as headaches, abdominal pains, aches and pains without cause.
- Suicidal thoughts, statements or attempts.
- Inability to carry out daily tasks such as personal hygiene.
Signs of a substance use disorder
Symptoms of SUDs can also vary depending on the substance used, but common signs that suggest a person may have a substance use problem include:14
- Isolating yourself from family and friends or spending time with different friends.
- Often late or absent from work or school.
- Neglecting responsibilities at home, school, or work because of substance use.
- Engage in risky behavior, including arguments, unsafe sex, or drunk driving
- Increased tolerance to alcohol or drugs, which means you need to take more drugs or drink more alcohol to feel their effects.
- Loss of control associated with substance use – for example, using more than intended or feeling unable to stop.
- Withdrawal symptoms when substance use is stopped.
- Difficulty functioning without alcohol or drugs or dealing with stress.
- Inability to discontinue use even after substance abuse has caused or aggravated physical or mental health conditions or interpersonal relationships.
- Spending a lot of time getting the substance, using it, or recovering from the effects.
Ways to contact us
If you think you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, let us hear your story and help you find a path to treatment.
There are several confidential, free and non-binding ways to contact us to find out more about the treatment.
- call us
- Check your insurance coverage for treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment programs
Dual diagnosis treatment simultaneously addresses the SUD and the mental disorder. These integrated treatment programs examine, assess, and treat both conditions simultaneously with medical and therapeutic interventions.14Comprehensive integrated care can be provided across the continuum of care, including:14
- Detoxification:The first step for people with chemical dependency, which is usually done in a doctor-run setting with 24-hour medical supervision, where doctors can prescribe medication as needed to ensure safety and comfort while a person is clearing their body of drugs and alcohol.
- Rehabilitation of hospitalized patients: Individuals learn to manage substance use and symptoms of co-occurring disorders in residential rehabilitation centers where therapy, psychiatric care, education, medication and social services, and 24-hour health monitoring can be supported by medical staff and health specialists mental.
- outpatient care. Services, therapies and treatments in the outpatient setting are similar - if not identical - to those in the inpatient setting. However, individuals live at home or away from home in a sober living facility or other similar housing situation while receiving treatment for co-occurring disorders.
- post-treatment or post-treatment. Ongoing support such as B. Support groups for SUDs and co-occurring disorders, individual therapy, alumni meetings, and others help individuals with long-term recovery.
The goal of integrated treatment is to help people stay sober or significantly reduce their substance use and alleviate the symptoms of their mental illness.5The process involves counseling, behavioral therapies, and sometimes medication.4,5Integrated treatment can use several therapeutic techniques that have been shown to be effective in treating mental health disorders and SUDs, including:12,14
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(TCC).This research-based talk therapy improves a person's coping skills by exploring their beliefs and thought patterns and changing their behavior. CBT is also commonly used to reduce the risk of relapse.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).DBT uses mindfulness and self-awareness to improve a person's emotional state and reduce negative behaviors such as self-harm, substance use, and suicidal tendencies.
- Emergency management.This therapy encourages healthy behaviors and offers coupons and other small rewards for desired outcomes, such as passing a drug test.
- self-help and self-help groups.Peer support or self-help groups tailored to populations with substance use or co-occurring disorders such asanonymous double diagnosis(DDA) and other 12-step, competency-based, or psychoeducational groups may be offered as part of a dual diagnosis treatment program to help alleviate feelings of isolation and help develop healthy coping skills.
Is dual diagnosis treatment effective?
Integrated, comprehensive, and individualized treatment that addresses both mental health issues and substance use is considered the standard of care for most individuals with co-occurring SUDs and other mental health issues.15If identified early, integrated treatment can reduce or prevent substance abuse, improve your psychiatric symptoms and functioning, increase the chances of a successful recovery from both conditions, reduce your drug interactions, alleviate your legal problems, improve your health and provide a better quality of life.15
Studies show that integrated or coordinated treatment of co-occurring disorders is much more effective than non-integrated treatment, where there is a lack of coordination between mental health professionals and other medical professionals. Therefore, care for substance abuse as well as mental illness is integrated into all aspects of effective treatment, which typically includes motivational interventions, intensive case management, education, support, counseling, involvement of family and friends, and support and long term support. schedule.16
How much does dual diagnosis treatment cost?
Treatment costs for dual diagnoses vary by state and type of program. Private health insurance usually covers at least part of dual diagnosis treatment. As a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), mental health coverage has improved, requiring health insurance plans to provide similar coverage for mental health disorders and SUDs as they do for physical health disorders.17Additionally, this federal law ensures that restrictions for mental and behavioral health conditions are not more restrictive than physical health conditions, meaning that deductibles and other expenses must be similar, as well as limiting the number of days or visits covered.18
While all health plans should cover behavioral health care, such as psychotherapy and counseling, inpatient mental health, and behavioral health care and LDS treatment, it is important to check with your provider to better understand the details of your individual health plan.
For those without insurance, many treatment facilities offer tiered payment options, meaning costs are determined by income.19
Find dual diagnosis treatment centers near me
In 2019, only 12.7% of people with co-occurring mental illnesses and SUDs were receiving treatment for both disorders.20In most states, only about half of drug or alcohol rehabilitation centers have a specific treatment program for people with co-occurring mental illnesses and SUDs.20
To assist in locating a facility that offers integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) has a behavioral health treatment locator service that can be foundHere.You can search by location and then filter by treatment setting, specialty programs or payment method.
American Addiction Centers is the nation's leading provider of addiction treatment, and many of our facilities offer an integrated treatment approach to co-occurring disorders, providing individuals with the help they need to manage their mental illness and achieve their life goals. reducing or eliminating substance use. to live a happy and healthy life.