It is common for people with substance use disorders to also be diagnosed with another mental health condition. It is also common for people living with mental health conditions to misuse substances in an attempt to alleviate symptoms. When a person is diagnosed with both a mental health condition and substance use disorder, this is called co-occurring disorders. To properly help and treat patients with co-occurring disorders, a program set up to handle dual diagnosis treatment is often needed.
At Pines Recovery Life Detox, our team believes that dual diagnosis treatment is the key to comprehensive care to effectively treat addiction and mental health. If you or a loved one may benefit from treatment for co-occurring disorders, reach out to Pines Recovery Life Detox today by calling 800.263.3869 or completing our online form.
What Is a Substance Use Disorder?
A substance use disorder affects a person’s ability to control their use of a substance or multiple substances. Someone with a substance use disorder might experience changes in their brain chemistry similar to someone with a different kind of mental disorder, such as depression. They will also experience behavioral issues related to their substance use.
These behavioral issues can often be the catalyst for a person to decide to seek treatment, as these issues can affect family relationships and sometimes cause legal problems. The most severe expression of substance use disorder is addiction. Once someone is addicted to a substance, they will likely need the help of a detox or treatment center to recover.
Does Drug Use Cause Mental Illness or Does Mental Illness Cause Drug Use?
Actually, both can be true. In some cases, chronic substance abuse can cause mental health problems, and in others, mental health conditions can cause a person to abuse substances.
Many types of drugs that people use recreationally can have psychoactive effects. In some people, these psychoactive effects can lead to a mental crisis, or in some cases, a full-on mental illness. Furthermore, when a person is living with a substance abuse disorder, the effects and events of that lifestyle can be stressful and potentially traumatizing, putting the person at risk for developing a mental health condition.
Often, if a person is living with a mental illness but not receiving proper treatment or medications to help them deal with their condition, they may attempt to relieve symptoms by misusing drugs. This is sometimes referred to as self-medication. It is very common for someone living with a mental illness to struggle with side effects or adverse effects of their prescribed medication. This is why it is critical to find a provider who will understand and work with the patient to get the medications working at their very best. Even so, the symptoms of mental illness can be overwhelming at times and lead the patient to seek out other methods of relieving those symptoms.
What’s the Difference Between Drug Rehab and Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
It can be complicated for treatment providers to evaluate someone with co-occurring diagnoses because there are many mental health conditions and many different substances that can be abused. A treatment plan must be tailored to each patient specifically according to their exact needs. Special types of behavioral therapy may be used, and medicines prescribed may need to be chosen in order not to trigger the patient’s substance abuse disorder.
At Pines Recovery Life Detox, we provide a range of therapy options, such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
Despite the complex nature of treating co-occurring disorders, patients who are treated with both issues in mind have a higher likelihood of completing treatment.
Find Support for Co-Occurring Disorders at Pines Recovery Life Detox
If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse and mental illness, contact a treatment program that specializes in dual diagnosis treatment near you. If you are in South Florida, reach out to the caring staff at Pines Recovery Life Detox in Pembroke Pines by calling 800.263.3869 or completing our online form and begin your journey back to health.
