What is Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment?
Many individuals who struggle with substance use disorders also have diagnosed mental health conditions. For some, traumatic experiences that occur as a result of life in active addiction can bring about psychological or emotional disorders like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. For others, substance abuse is a means of self-medicating these pre-existing ailments. In either case, for an individual to successfully recover from drug and alcohol dependence, they must also address co-occurring mental health issues. A dual diagnosis treatment program, like that offered by Boynton Beach addiction treatment center All In Solutions, provides specialized focused care that simultaneously treats psychiatric pathologies and addiction/alcoholism.
Why is Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment Important?
According to the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), over 9 million adults struggled with both a mental disorder and substance use disorder in 2018. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of these people seek professional help. Unlike people who experience only one disorder, those suffering from both a mental illness and substance disorder exhibit symptoms that are more severe, persistent, and resistant to treatment. In addition, those who do receive treatment that does not adequately address both factors are likely to continue to suffer from some degree of psychosocial dysfunction.
Components of Treatment Programs for Co-Occurring Disorders
The Psychiatric Clinics of North America Journal reports that with help, people with a dual diagnosis can recover and stabilize. The program for dual diagnosis substance abuse mostly involves behavioral interventions. The different types of behavioral therapies used in the treatment are mentioned below.
- Dialectic Behavioral Therapy: It aims to reduce self-harming behaviors that are accompanied by substance use disorders and mental health conditions.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: It works by minimizing problematic behaviors and beliefs and developing healthier behavioral and thinking patterns to maintain sobriety.
- Integrated Group Therapy: It seeks to treat the symptoms that are common among those suffering from mental health illnesses and substance use disorders all at once.
- Individual Psychotherapy: It treats behaviors caused by substance abuse or mental health problems.
Sometimes, a combination of behavioral therapies and medication is needed to treat dual diagnosis addiction patients. Generally, medicines vary according to the diagnosis and the needs of the individual. Some commonly used medications include anticonvulsants and lithium which are used as mood stabilizers, SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), and anti-anxiety drugs like buspirone.
Inpatient vs Outpatient Dual-Diagnosis Addiction Treatment
A residential dual diagnosis rehab is a common form of inpatient treatment wherein one has to live at the rehab center during their treatment. Depending on the rules of the facility, residents might be allowed to have regular visitors or leave the treatment center. Due to the complicated nature of co-occurring disorders, those suffering from a dual diagnosis require additional services, on-site professionals from different backgrounds, and ongoing support. Hence, an inpatient center is the best place for them to begin their recovery. The programs are designed to alleviate complex issues through intensive treatment. Inpatient also provides the benefit of a structured and safe environment, which is not always available for patients outside of a treatment setting.
Outpatient treatment typically involves the same therapeutic practices employed at an inpatient rehab, but patients commute from home. This provides flexibility to work and tend to any outside obligations, but limits how intensive the treatment can be. For patients who are more severely affected by addiction or psychiatric illness, outpatient is a level of care that is best used as a "step-down" after completing an inpatient rehab.
Addiction Treatment Center in Boynton Beach Offering Dual Diagnosis Program
South Florida is home to countless addiction treatment programs offering inpatient and outpatient rehab for drugs and alcohol. However, not all treatment facilities are equipped to offer true dual-diagnosis counseling. All In Solutions Counseling Center, in Boynton Beach Florida, offers evidence-based addiction treatment suitable for individuals struggling with co-occurring conditions. Clinical director, Albert Zingariello LCSW, says that the program is designed according to the biopsychosocial model of psychiatric treatment. The drug and alcohol rehab clinical building is located less than a mile from the East Gateway Blvd exit off I-95. The Boynton Beach addiction treatment center benefits from a thriving Florida recovery community and is conveniently accessible to Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Aberdeen, Ocean Ridge, and West Palm Beach.
