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Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment - Linking Mental Health & Substance Abuse

Dec 9

The connection between mental health and substance usage is frequently overlooked. This article examines the link between mental health and drug misuse, as well as numerous ways for assisting individuals who are dealing with both.

Between 15% and 20% of patients in treatment get drug addiction counseling in addition to their mental health therapy, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). According to SAMHSA, between 2-5 percent of persons assisted by a county behavioral health services program suffer from both mental illness and drug or alcohol abuse.

The impact of psychological disorders and drug misuse can be a problem that is inextricably intertwined. Mental illnesses and drug addiction pave the way for drug and alcohol abuse. Deal with addictions as soon as possible, but the greatest treatment care coordination requires extensive study over time. Even if you don't need a medication regimen or therapy, it's crucial that you talk about the situation with your physician.

What Causes Mental Illness and Drug Abuse?

Mental illness and drug addiction occur when a patient uses medication, alcohol, or toxicants without a prescription in order to achieve a desired experience. The vast majority of drug users do so for recreational purposes. Once they've started taking it on a daily basis, they won't be able to go without it. The majority of these chemicals, such as nicotine in cigarettes, include addictive properties that can lead to abuse.

A mentally ill individual is well aware of their illness when they are at their most sane. They are looking for a sensation of being able to act better as a result of this understanding. There is a growing desire to overcome a mental illness, whether with or without professional assistance. Patients are naturally lured to intoxicants or substances that help them to restore mental control. Hide your mental illness from others, including your doctor, and you'll be more likely to use substances.

 

Cause vs Effect: Mental Health Problems & Substance Abuse

Every person's circumstance is different, and while some persons who develop a drug addiction previously had a diagnosable mental health illness, the opposite is also true at times. Self-medication is a normal development for those suffering from mental diseases such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Patients who self-medicate take medications that they feel will help them cope with the mental illness they are experiencing. People with anxiety problems, for example, may begin to drink more often to calm their worries. As a result, their anxiety becomes more intense when they are not drinking, and they grow more reliant on alcohol to manage. This creates a positive reinforcement loop that can soon spiral out of control, leaving a person with more serious mental health issues and an active substance use problem.

Signs of a Substance Use Disorder

Intoxication, hangovers, and withdrawal symptoms are all signs of an alcohol use problem. Denial by the individual with the condition that they have a problem; use of alcohol to feel better. Alcoholism is a chronic condition in which a person must consume high amounts of alcohol (20-30 drinks per day) on a regular basis and then take days off to reduce the symptoms. Staying up late at night, falling into despair, melancholy when not drinking frequently, and drinking more alcohol than planned due to side effects such as blackouts and falls are all symptoms.

Addiction is a disease in which a person's ability to resist, regulate, or change their substance use is impaired and continues despite negative effects. The following are signs of addiction:

The inability to stop taking a drug despite its acknowledged health hazards and the insatiable desire for pleasure benefits at any costs. To put it another way, addiction is conduct that is compelled rather than voluntary.A fixation with obtaining, using, or recuperating from that drug. Alcoholism is defined by compulsive alcohol use that interferes with the user's capacity to maintain regular social connections and leads to periodic periods of heavy drunkenness that result in failure at job or school (if not already affected).

Common Co-Occuring Disorders

  • Eating disorders like anorexia or bulemia
  • Schizo-affective disorders like schizophrenia
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Depression
  • Dissociation and dissociative personality disorder
  • General Anxiety disorders
  • Tourettes Syndrome
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Phobias
  • Mood Disorders

How Are Addiction and Mental Health Diagnosed and Treated?


A specialist with experience with both addiction and mental health diseases is needed for a dual diagnosis. Co-occurring disorders can be identified and treated in a variety of ways, including:

The necessary course of treatment will be determined by the combination of symptoms and history, which may include traditional counseling with a qualified counselor, medications, and/or other forms of therapy such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or Mindfulness.

A medical detoxification may be required as part of a patient's treatment plan, depending on their drug of choice and usage history. A patient is overseen by medical specialists during detox and is eased off of addictive substances and alcohol in a way that minimizes severe withdrawal symptoms that might put the patient at risk for medical consequences.

 

Getting Mental Health and Addiction Treatment

If you or a loved one is suffering from mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or other mental disorders caused or exacerbated by a drug or alcohol addiction, there are numerous resources available to assist you. As previously said, depending on the severity of the substance use disease, a patient may require inpatient detox and stabilization before being able to begin a recovery program constructively. For individuals seeking dual diagnosis addiction therapy, All In Solutions Counseling Center in Boynton Beach, Florida, provides a unique treatment experience with individualized dual diagnosis addiction treatment plans. They have experienced therapists, psychiatrists, and addiction professionals who can provide qualified care to patients who struggle from a combination of mental health concerns and substance use disorders like:

  • Alcoholism and alcohol addiction
  • Benzodiazepine addiction (this includes drugs like Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, and more)
  • Cocaine addiction (and crack addiction)
  • Heroin addiction
  • Prescription opiate addiction (this includes drugs like Oxycodone, Morphine, Vicodin, Percocet, Fentanyl, Dilauid, and Codeine)
  • Methamphetamine addiction
  • Adderall addiction
  • And other drug addictions

If you'd like to learn more about the unique clincal treatmet programs offered at the dual diagnosis facility All In Solutions Counseling Center, visit their website here: https://www.allinsolutions.com/locations/boynton-beach-fl/

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