Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Union City, NJ
It was once thought that mental health disorders and drug addiction were separate things to be treated separately. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that addiction and mental health are intricately linked. In some individuals, drug and alcohol use offer a means of coping with the symptoms of a mental illness. For others, drug and alcohol use exacerbate an underlying condition or bring to the surface mental illness. The connection between mental illness and substance abuse is covered under dual diagnosis treatment in Union City.
Though the exact links between mental illness and addiction are still being investigated, researchers know that about two-thirds of people with a mental health condition will abuse drugs or alcohol at some point in their life. At any given time, a third of those suffering from alcohol addiction in Union City have at least one serious mental illness. Half of all drug abusers suffer from a diagnosable mental condition. What is clear, however, is that treating both conditions simultaneously, at a dual diagnosis treatment center, provides the best possible outcome. That is why dual diagnosis treatment in Union City is so important for individuals with a substance abuse disorder and a comorbid mental health condition.
Types of Mental Health Disorders
Mental health conditions can be divided in many ways. The classic mechanism divides mental health disorders into classes based on the similarity of symptoms. Those classes include:
Mood Disorders (e.g. depression, bipolar disorder, etc.)
- Extreme sadness
- Extreme changes in mood from euphoric to suicidal
- Loss of interest in activities once found enjoyable
- Risk-taking behavior
Psychotic Disorders (e.g. schizophrenia)
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Personality changes
Anxiety Disorders (e.g. OCD, anxiety, panic disorder, phobias)
- Feelings of panic and fear
- Trouble sleeping
- Heart palpitations
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
Eating Disorders (e.g. anorexia)
- Body image distortion
- Induced vomiting
- Binge eating
- Often combined with anxiety
Dementia (e.g. Alzheimer's Disease)
- Problems with memory
- Problems with planning and other executive function
- Loss of inhibitions
- Changes in personality
It is important to know that these categories are not perfect. Conditions that are primarily categorized as psychotic disorders can share many symptoms with conditions classified as mood disorders. It is also the case that many people have mixed conditions or suffer from more multiple conditions from more than one of the above classes. While convenient for discussion, no classification system for mental health is perfect. These conditions are so complex that they defy simple categorization.
Why Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment Beneficial?
Dual diagnosis treatment programs are critical to long-term success because mental health and addiction are tightly connected. If substance abuse is being used in lieu of accepted medical treatment for a mental health disorder, it will be difficult to overcome addiction when symptoms of the mental illness return. Similarly, if substance abuse has uncovered a mental health condition, treating both the substance abuse and the mental illness is likely to bring both under control faster and provide better long-term relief from both than if they are treated separately.
Studies suggest that less than 10% of individuals suffering from substance abuse and mental health co-conditions receive adequate diagnosis let alone adequate dual diagnosis rehab. Fortunately, dual diagnosis in Union City can help to ensure adequate treatment and thus better chances of long-term wellness and sobriety. Dual diagnosis treatment consists of:
- Assessing an individual's psychiatric health
- Treating the mind, body, and spirit
- Integrated addiction rehabilitation that focuses on treating both conditions simultaneously and explores how they are linked to better equip addicts to cope with stressors
- Behavioral modification therapy
- Medical treatment
- Relapse prevention education and planning
Inpatient treatment at a dual diagnosis treatment center is almost always recommended for dual diagnosis patients. Psychoactive medications are notoriously difficult to dose properly and can have serious side effects when mixed with alcohol or drugs. It is important that individuals being started on these medications have close medical supervision to ensure that they respond well and that there are no severe side effects.
It is also the case that inpatient rehab in Union City is the most effective means of addressing addiction and thus people with dual diagnoses often respond best to inpatient care lasting at least 90 days.
Believe it or not, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommends that individuals undergo 12 months of clinically supervised treatment for opiate addiction. This timeline varies for other addictions, but highlights just how serious addiction is.
While dual diagnosis treatment in Union City need not last the entire year, a great deal can be gained from short term (30-90 day) treatment in an inpatient dual diagnosis treatment center. It sets people up for long-term success, sobriety, and wellness. Call us now if you are ready to regain control of your illness (877) 804-1531.