Mental health and substance abuse disorders are frequently referred to as “co-occurring disorders,” meaning they frequently coexist. That’s why dual diagnosis treatment is often recommended for patients struggling with substance abuse. It’s fairly common for people with mental health issues to self-medicate with controlled substances. They may do this to temporarily lift their mood or dull feelings like anger, depression, or anxiety. Unfortunately, these substances often exacerbate mental health issues and cause user dependence.
So, what is the best way to tackle a dual-pronged problem? Many experts believe that an integrated approach yields the most reliable results. That’s why it’s wise to go to a treatment center that treats both the addiction problem and any accompanying mental disorders at the same time. This approach is often called dual diagnosis treatment or integrated care. Here’s how integrated care works and how it can improve treatment outcomes.
What Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
Dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders treatment refers to the process of treating both a mental health disorder and substance addiction simultaneously. It includes an integrated care approach that utilizes a team of clinicians, therapists, and medical professionals who collaborate to create and carry out each patient’s care plan. Pathways specializes in offering multidisciplinary treatment for co-occurring or dual diagnosis disorders.
Our comprehensive treatment approach ensures consistency between trauma therapy, addiction treatment, and mental health counseling. Benefits of our holistic treatment approach include better long-term mental health outcomes, reduced risk of relapse, and improved client participation.
How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Helps in Substance Abuse Recovery
Research shows a strong link between mental illness and substance abuse. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 35% of U.S. adults aged 18 and over have both a mental health and substance use disorder. Adolescents also have especially high rates of experiencing substance use disorders in concurrence with mental health disorders. These often include anxiety, mood, attention deficit, and conduct disorders.
Treating just the drug abuse problem without also treating the underlying mental health disorder is not the most effective approach. Integrated treatments, on the other hand, tend to lead to better health outcomes. Such treatments may include psychosocial interventions, medications, or a combination of both. Here are a few ways integrated dual diagnosis treatment helps with substance abuse recovery.
Personalized Treatment Plans
Integrated treatments rely heavily on outcome-based, measurement-based care. Providers use patient-reported data to review the effectiveness of their combined treatment approaches. Depending on the feedback they receive, they can continue with their original approach or adjust treatment types and intensities. The practice of regularly welcoming patient feedback and adjusting treatment methods accordingly makes for highly personalized treatments.
Personalized plans allow clinicians to track treatment progress in both mental health recovery and substance abuse recovery simultaneously. Holistic addiction recovery programs focus on stabilizing substance abuse and mental health disorders at the same time. This is a more effective approach than just focusing on disorder or the other.
Improved Client Engagement
Clients who feel like rehabilitation is a waste of time or doubt its ability to work for them tend to be minimally engaged in the treatment process. On the other hand, when clients have faith in the process, they’re more likely to feel motivated to fully participate. Patients who receive mental health and addiction recovery services at the same time tend to feel more hopeful about their recovery chances.
Additionally, a patient-informed dual diagnosis treatment approach keeps patients involved and invested in their treatment outcomes. They’re more likely to feel respected and understood when their providers rely on them for feedback regarding the effectiveness of the treatments they’re receiving.
Reduced Relapse Risk
Treating only substance abuse and not the underlying mental health disorder increases the risk of relapse. It’s like putting a bandage on an infected sore without treating the bacteria causing the infection in the first place. Patients who don’t receive integrated care for substance use disorders often leave their rehabilitation programs without the tools they need to succeed. They may feel overwhelmed and woefully unprepared to deal with cravings and triggers in a healthy way.
On the other hand, patients who check into dual diagnosis rehab programs receive a more comprehensive approach to healing. Treating both conditions simultaneously gets to the root of the problem and helps clients develop coping mechanisms that work.
Trauma-Informed, Root-Cause Care
Unaddressed and untreated trauma is a common reason many people turn to substances. Trauma is an emotional response to one or more physically or emotionally harmful events, conditions, or series of circumstances. Trauma can have lasting mental, social, emotional, physical, or spiritual effects on the impacted person. Treating mental health and addiction together using a trauma-informed approach is one of the best ways to overcome them.
Pathways focuses on healing the underlying trauma or problem that drives a person’s addictive behaviors. Trauma-informed addiction treatment is a cornerstone of our philosophy. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a compassionate treatment approach that acknowledges the lasting impact one or more traumatic experiences can have on a person’s life and behaviors. TIC works to promote trust and foster a sense of safety in those impacted by trauma. It also empowers individuals to overcome the effects of past traumas and define their health goals and needs.
Conclusion
If you or a loved one has a substance addiction, treating the addiction by itself may not be the best path to lasting recovery and rehabilitation. It’s far better to receive substance abuse and mental health treatment together. Pathways Real Life Recovery is a trusted provider of dual diagnosis treatment in Utah. Call us today at (801) 895-3006 to request a consultation. We look forward to helping you or a loved one achieve lasting rehabilitation and empowerment through our holistic dual diagnosis treatment approach.
