Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis is a co-occurring mental health disorder in a person with a substance abuse disorder.

In a case of dual diagnosis, it is crucial to create a treatment plan that addresses the physical aspects of withdrawal, the psychological connection with drug use, and the underlying mental health disorder. First, it is necessery to conduct a thorough mental health analysis of the patient and identify opportunities for treatment. The assesment is usually followed by a detoxification process and inpatient treatment, and completed with behavioral therapy.

If you notice signs of substance abuse of mental health issues in yourself or a loved one, reach out to We Level Up Lake Worth FL. Start building a better life today.

What Is Dual Diagnosis?

Different institutions have different precise definitions for dual diagnosis—also sometimes referred to as co-occurring conditions. Usually, it is characterized as the particular treatment of someone diagnosed with both a mental health and a substance addiction disorder concurrently.

Professionals in addiction therapy know that mental health and drug usage have a complex and closely entwined link from which one cannot easily separate. Whether the mental illness preceded vice versa or substance misuse, there is no difference. It is often ineffective trying to treat drug addiction alone, while ignoring the undelying mentla health issues.

The origin of the term first came about in the 1980s when it was first realized how closely substance abuse was tied with mental health. Addressing a mental disorder is crucial not only for identifying key causes or triggers of substance abuse but also because physical addiction is rooted in biochemical imbalances, just as many mental health deficiencies are. Particular neurochemical imbalances could result in certain people having a biologically higher risk of developing an addiction—something that no amount of behavioral therapy could cure on its own.

The Roots of Addiction and Mental Health Issues

While addiction, once fully formed, becomes an insidious disease in the mind, it doesn’t start that way. If we view it, instead, as a symptom, we can trace it back to its origin. Substance abuse may have begun as a remedy for esteem issues, for improving social status, or it may have stemmed from a need to self-medicate due to previous burdens. Some of these origins are circumstantial, but some may have to do with a pre-existing chemical imbalance.

Many mental disorders, like addiction, are better treated when you fully understand what you are suffering from. Similarly, like with diabetes, you must familiarize yourself with its causes, symptoms and conditions for safely living with the disease. Understanding PTSD, depression, and other disorders and their effects on you goes a long way towards recognizing your own treatment needs.

How We Identify Dual Diagnosis Cases

We at We Level Up Lake Worth FL treatment center believe that if the client can identify the underlying issue and treat it simultaneously with their treatment for addiction, the client’s chances of a successful, relapse-free recovery are much improved. In fact, once we can identify and properly begin treatment on the underlying issue that’s driving or co-occurring with the dependency on alcohol or other drugs, clients will have reached a major milestone and will be that much closer to long-term sobriety.

At our Florida drug rehab center, we do not believe that long-term recovery comes in a one-size-fits-all program. For this reason, each client, upon arrival at our drug treatment center, will undergo an extensive and comprehensive physical and psychological exam with our team of physicians, mental health specialists, spiritual advisers, and nutritionists.

The symptoms of the multiple disorders that can occur alongside addiction can present complex and similar symptoms. Proper diagnosis requires a highly trained professional staff with years of experience. Our expert team will determine what the client’s underlying issues are so we can then customize an individualized approach and, when appropriate, provide integrated dual diagnosis treatment.

Common Dual Diagnosis Combinations

There are mental health conditions that commonly go together with certain substances. Some of the combinations we see most often are:

1. Bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder
2. PTSD and opioids
3. Anxiety disorders and benzodiazepine
4. Depression and Cannabis

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a treatable brain disorder marked by extreme shifts in a person’s mood and disposition. Periods of intense mania are followed by bouts of severe depression, often with periods of normalcy in between. While on either end of the spectrum, sufferers of bipolar disorder often find it difficult to concentrate and maintain functionality sufficient for leading a productive life. During the intense manic or “high” periods, you become overly enthusiastic or optimistic and may begin tasks or plans that are not feasible. These high periods are followed by crashes and intense “lows,” which can involve sleeping all day, feeling hopeless, suicide attempts, and other symptoms shared with depression.

People with bipolar disorder often use alcohol to cope with their mood swings. During manic phases, they might drink to enhance their high energy levels, while in depressive phases, they might drink to numb their feelings of sadness.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Opioids

PTSD is a condition brought on by a traumatic event or period in a person’s life. As the name implies, (post-traumatic stress disorder) fits of stress come, often triggered by stimuli that relate to their trauma, delivering a surge of emotions and unpleasant memories associated with the event. PTSD patients report that sometimes they are suffering from uncontrollable anxiety, sleepless nights, nightmares, flashbacks, as well as short-term memory loss, which may cause long-lasting psychological issues. To deal with the bouts of stress brought on by PTSD, many patients begin self-medicating with depressants to numb their pain, or any other drug that allows them to find an ‘escape’ from their experiences.

People with PTSD might turn to opioids to numb their emotional pain and escape from their traumatic memories. Opioids can provide temporary relief from the anxiety and stress associated with PTSD, leading to dependence and addiction.

Anxiety Disorders and Benzodiazepine

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a variety of different things. People suffering from GAD might anticipate disaster and may be overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues. They find it extremely difficult to control their worries and fears.

People with panic attacts also have a high likelihood to self-medicate to find escape from the feelings of anxiety. Panic attacks are different from a normal fear because they happen when there is no real danger. Most people experience a couple of panic attacks in their lifetime without recurrence. If, however, panic attacks are more regular, they may debilitate the person and alter their behavior in anticipation.

People with anxiety disorders often use benzodiazepines to calm their constant worries and anxiety. These medications can provide temporary relief, but they can also lead to dependence and addiction if used regularly without medical supervision.

Depression and Cannabis

Depression is one of the most widespread mental health issues worldwide. It is not quite the same thing as “feeling blue,” or being “down,” and is marked by intense and persistant feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Millions of Americans suffer from depression, which is distinguished by extreme mood swings and is strongly linked with suicidal thoughts, as well as over, or under-eating, over, or under-sleeping. Depression is not something people can just “get over” or “snap out of,” and medication or therapy, or a mix of both, may be necessary for a full recovery.

People with depression, especially young ones, may turn to cannabis as a means of escape from their hopelessness and gloom. Although cannabis can offer transient relief, its prolonged use can lead to dependence and make depression symptoms worse.

Statistics and Evidence

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 21.5 million adults suffered from co-occurring disorders in 2022. The administration assessed the following groups as being at the highest risk of dual diagnosis:

• The homeless community
• Veterans
• Those in the criminal justice system

For the populations who are homeless or in the criminal justice system, the causal relationship may be different than with veterans, and it should be noted that there is some significant overlap between these three groups.

In fact, there’s reason to believe that there’s a causal relationship between many mental disorders and substance abuse disorders. For example, according to a study published on substance abuse among veterans, 11 percent of veterans who visited a VA treatment facility for the first time met the criteria for a substance abuse disorder. Veterans are also more likely to suffer from mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can lead to alcohol abuse and opioid prescriptions that lead to substance abuse.

A report published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggested that there is a reason why people with mental disorders are up to two times as likely to develop substance abuse disorders:

• Certain drugs can cause abusers to suffer one or more symptoms of another mental illness.
• Mental illness may precipitate or hasten substance abuse. An individual suffering from symptoms of a mental illness may attempt to self-medicate.
• Drug use disorders and mental illnesses are caused by overlapping factors: genetic, deficits, and otherwise.

People who struggle with mental health disorders either seek clinical medication or self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. People who get prescriptions for their condition are less likely to develop abuse disorders, but often the medications that they get access to have high abuse potential, creating more risk.

People who self-medicate for their mental illnesses often start early, and the use of drugs or alcohol as a way to escape becomes a natural part of life.

The reverse order can also be true, in which a mental disorder is caused or worsened by the use of drugs or alcohol. For example, some common pairings:

• Cocaine and paranoia and anxiety
• Alcohol and antisocial personality disorder
• PTSD and opioid abuse

Cycle of Addiction

The original development of an addiction may have come about as a response to a mental health issue. Without proper diagnosis, many people try to control their disorders by self-medicating—using alcohol or tranquilizers for anxiety, amphetamines or cocaine for depression, etc.—and the short-term relief or distraction makes the experiment look like a success.

Repeted use can then lead to dependency, and, that way, a substance abuse disorder can be formed. Substance abuse can make mental illness symptoms worse, just like mental illness can impede long-term sobriety. This cyclical effect of dual diagnosis makes it difficult to treat without the proper medical support.

Alternatively, a person relatively free from mental health problems can experiment with drugs and continue past “recreational use” to dependency; that’s when secondary mental health issues can emerge. If left untreated, it can make the ongoing drug abuse problem even worse. Also, certain drugs, like amphetamines and PCP, can cause psychotic episodes that may repeat themselves—these flashbacks can be triggered by stress even in the absence of drug use.

What to Expect From Our Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis cases are complicated and they require a comprehensive approach. An effective dual diagnosis treatment for addiction address both a substance abuse disorder and a co-occurring psychological issue at the same time. It will offer several levels of therapy, as well as multiple treatment options, and combine them to meet the individual needs of their patients.

After a comprehensive assesment of the patien’t condition, mental health and substance abuse history, the treatment usually starts with a detox process. Our Florida drug detox program is designed to remove the physical dependence on any substances, under medical supervision.

The detoxification is followed by a residency program. This type of program can last as long as two months and is designed to provide intensive, focused therapy in a controlled environment to help you get over the first hurdle and give you the tools necessary to face the cravings and temptations of everyday life.

During the inpatient rehab in Florida, dual diagnosis cases are identified and the treatment of underlying mental health issue begins. It usually involves a combination of therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

To acheive a full recovery and stay on the path to sobriety even after the inpatient treatment is completed, it is advisable to continue with individual counceling with a psychotherapist or participate in some form of group therapy.

Insurance and Payment Options

Even though it might seem complicated and makes you overwhelmed, understanding your insurance coverage is not that difficult. You just need our help. Call us and we will give you all the details you need. We accept a variety of insurance plans, including:

• BCBS insurance coverage
• Cigna rehab coverage

If your insurance does not cover our dual diagnosis treatment, or if you are concerned about payment options, we are here with solutions. Our team will work with you to explore all available options and find what suits you best. We will get the financial aspects sorted out quickly so you can concentrate on your healing. Contact us for more information!

Join Our Dual Diagnosis Treatment and Rebuild Your Life

As the addiction treatment community begins to realize that addiction is itself a mental disorder, the relationship between substance abuse and mental disorders becomes more complicated. The greater treatment community largely lacks a proper understanding of dual diagnosed conditions, so these conditions are still treated separately, or worse, not treated or diagnosed at all. Our dual diagnosis treatment center in Florida is one of the facilities that have professionals trained to help treat co-occurring disorders concurrently. This type of treatment provides some of the best success rates. 

Get treatment for substance abuse and mental health disorders. Call (855) 976-2776 today!

Frequently Asked Questions About Dual Diagnosis Treatment