Ever wonder why some people find it easier to recover from an addiction while others have to work at it?
It’s not just a matter of willpower or determination. The difference is that millions of Americans who suffer from addiction have a hidden barrier to recovery that other people do not.
It’s called a co-occurring disorder – and if you do not include it in your addiction recovery plan, your chances of long-term success are much lower.
In this article, we will give you all of the information you need to understand co-occurring disorders. We will cover:
- What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?
- Why Traditional Treatment Fails
- The Best Approach to Dual Diagnosis Treatment
- How to Build a Recovery Plan that Works
What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?
Co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis, occur when a person has a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time.
Consider this…
Depression can lead a person to self-medicate with alcohol. Anxiety can lead to prescription drug abuse. In both cases, substance abuse and mental illness feed on each other and both conditions grow worse over time.
Statistics show that 55.8% of people with a substance use disorder also suffer from a mental illness.
Finding addiction recovery services in Teaneck that address co-occurring disorders is essential for long-term success. Quality addiction treatment in Teaneck always screens for mental health disorders and addresses them at the same time.
Why Traditional Treatment Often Fails
Here’s a truth you won’t hear most places…
If you try to treat an addiction without addressing the underlying mental health problem, you are not going to get very far. It is like plugging a leaky faucet but not fixing the broken pipe.
Look at how this happens…
Someone with depression and alcohol addiction goes to rehab. The program focuses only on the alcohol use disorder and does not treat the depression at all. The person leaves rehab and still has untreated depression.
After a while, they are using alcohol again to deal with their depression. The addiction returns because the root cause was not addressed.
This is why only 9.1% of people with co-occurring disorders receive treatment for both conditions. Most programs are not set up to address both problems simultaneously.
The result is a much higher relapse rate and a continuation of suffering for the person and their loved ones.
Common Co-Occurring Disorders
The following are the most common mental health conditions to have with substance use disorders:
- Depression and alcohol use disorder – Many people with depression use alcohol as self-medication.
- Anxiety disorders and benzodiazepine addiction – Anxiety treatment often involves prescription medications which lead to addiction in some cases.
- PTSD and substance abuse – Trauma is common among substance users and they often self-medicate.
- Bipolar disorder and stimulant use – Stimulants can be sought to mimic bipolar highs, and downers can be used to deal with bipolar lows.
Each combination of mental health and substance use disorder requires a slightly different approach to treatment.
One size does not fit all when it comes to dual diagnosis recovery.
The Integrated Treatment Approach
If separate treatments for addiction and mental illness do not work, what does?
The answer is integrated treatment. It means addressing both the mental health disorder and the addiction at the same time and in a coordinated way.
Here’s what it looks like in practice…
Instead of sending a person to one therapist for depression and another therapist for addiction, integrated treatment takes a holistic approach. One team of professionals works with the person on both problems using methods that address the interactions between the two.
It’s kind of like breaking your leg and spraining your ankle in the same fall. It would not make sense to treat the leg and the ankle separately, because they were injured at the same time.
Building An Effective Recovery Plan
Planning for addiction recovery when you have co-occurring disorders involves several components that work together.
Comprehensive Assessment
The first step is to do a full evaluation of the person’s condition. Screening for mental health issues during the addiction treatment intake process is vital because many people are unaware that they have a problem until they go through treatment.
Assessment includes a review of current and past patterns of substance use, symptoms and history of mental health conditions, family history of both addiction and mental health issues, and history of trauma or abuse.
Medication Management
Sometimes medications are necessary to effectively treat co-occurring disorders. For example, a person with severe depression and alcohol addiction might need antidepressants as part of the treatment plan.
However, medication alone is not enough. It must be combined with other treatment services.
Evidence-Based Therapy
Different types of therapy are effective for treating co-occurring disorders. The best evidence-based approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – This type of therapy can help people identify negative thoughts that drive both mental health symptoms and substance use.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – DBT is an effective skill-based therapy for managing emotions and tolerating distress without turning to substances.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy – Many people with addiction have a trauma history or PTSD. Trauma-focused therapy is important for these individuals.
These therapies can be adapted for co-occurring disorders to address both problems at once, making them ideal for dual diagnosis treatment.
Support Systems
Addiction recovery is never a solo activity. Establishing strong support systems for long-term success is vital when it comes to co-occurring disorders.
Support may include family therapy to improve relationships and support for addicts, dual diagnosis support groups, peer support from others who understand the challenges of addiction and mental health, and case management to help with practical needs.
The more support in place, the better the person’s chances are of long-term success.
Overcoming Treatment Barriers
Many people who know they need help for co-occurring disorders still face several barriers to getting treatment.
Stigma
The stigma of both addiction and mental illness is still a huge barrier to treatment. When someone has both conditions, they often experience a double stigma. The shame and embarrassment can keep people from seeking help.
Access To Care
It can be difficult to find a program that offers integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders. Not all centers have the staff and resources to offer dual diagnosis treatment.
Lack Of Awareness
People may not even know they have co-occurring disorders. They may be aware of their addiction but not realize that anxiety or depression is a separate disorder that must be treated.
The Role Of Aftercare
Here’s a truth that many people fail to understand…
Treatment is not a one-and-done thing. Recovery requires continued work and planning – and this is especially true for people with co-occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis increases the risk of relapse so a strong aftercare plan is essential.
The most effective aftercare plans include ongoing therapy appointments, medication management, regular meetings with a treatment team, and relapse prevention planning for both addiction and mental health symptoms.
Without a good aftercare plan, relapse risk is high.
The Bottom Line
Millions of Americans suffer from co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis. Mental health and substance use disorders co-occur much more often than people realize and this creates a complex challenge that must be treated in a specialized way.
Approaches that focus on one or the other without addressing both at the same time are not effective. The best addiction recovery plans involve treatment that addresses both the addiction and the mental health disorder at the same time.
This is accomplished through a combination of evidence-based therapies, medication when necessary, and strong support systems.
By understanding co-occurring disorders and getting comprehensive treatment, people can overcome the double challenge of addiction and mental illness. Recovery is possible with the right plan and support.
