Effective drug addiction treatment tackles the root causes of dependence. For many, these causes include depression, anxiety, or trauma. To maintain sobriety, it is crucial to include dual diagnosis treatment in your long-term recovery plan. This approach fosters healing from both the addiction and any underlying mental health issues.
Promises Behavioral Health provides an array of treatment services that can be tailored to your individual needs. In our substance abuse treatment centers in Massachusetts, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, and Pennsylvania, clients participate in dual diagnosis therapy that allows for in-depth exploration of the issues underlying their addiction. Through individual and group sessions, we help clients identify triggers and develop long-term strategies to maintain sobriety.
If you are ready to begin your journey to recovery, call our team at 888.483.7451 today to learn more about our addiction treatment programs.
Understanding Dual Diagnosis
Mental health issues play a large role in many addictions. When you struggle with both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition, this is known as a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. Some of the mental health concerns that can co-occur with substance use disorders include:
- A mood disorder, including major depression or bipolar disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder and other anxiety disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- ADHD
- Trauma and PTSD
Many people use alcohol or drugs to cope with an untreated mental health disorder. Drugs and alcohol may temporarily numb emotional pain, but they cannot eliminate it. Alcohol use disorder and drug abuse can develop in these cases. A dual diagnosis treatment center provides the integrated treatment you need to address both addiction and co-occurring substance and mental health conditions.
Why Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers Are Key to Addiction Recovery
Treatment for dual diagnosis addresses both substance use disorders and related mental health conditions. Some people receiving treatment for addiction may not get the right care for a co-occurring disorder. Without proper support, one condition can aggravate the other. Without treatment, you may find yourself in a cycle of substance use that is hard to break.
Co-occurring disorder treatment programs offer clients a clear, individualized treatment plan. When clinically appropriate, Promises Behavioral Health teams coordinate referrals to relevant services in your hometown after discharge. When issues such as trauma, depression, and anxiety are left unaddressed, the risk of relapse increases. If you have co-occurring disorders and you only tackle the substance use, you may return home and feel compelled to self-medicate.
Using drugs, drinking alcohol, or engaging in other compulsive behaviors may dull symptoms of a mental health disorder for a short time, but the symptoms usually return, and substance use can worsen mental health.
How Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment Works
Dual diagnosis treatment is an integrated treatment approach that screens for a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder at the same time, then creates one plan for both. At Promises Behavioral Health, your plan is individualized, compassionate, and designed to support real recovery.
Key steps you can expect:
- Comprehensive assessment, including medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial history
- Safety planning when needed for suicidal thoughts or self-harm concerns
- A coordinated treatment approach that addresses mental health and substance use together
- Ongoing measurement of progress, with adjustments as your needs change
- Discharge planning and connections to support groups, outpatient therapy, or community resources
Common Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Substance use can overlap with many mental disorders. While every client is unique, frequently seen combinations include:
- Depression with alcohol use disorder
- Anxiety disorders with stimulant or cannabis use
- PTSD with opioid or alcohol misuse
- Personality disorders with polysubstance use
- Bipolar and other mood disorders with alcohol or sedative use
- ADHD with nicotine or stimulant misuse
Untreated combinations can raise stress, impair sleep, and increase risk of relapse. Some people, including young adults, may be at increased risk during life transitions, so early support matters.
Therapies and Services Used in Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Evidence-Based Behavioral Therapies
Your clinician may use cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior skills training, and trauma-informed therapy to help you understand thoughts, emotions, and behaviors linked to substance use. Family therapy sessions can improve communication, reduce blame, and strengthen support systems.
Medication and Psychiatric Services
For some mental disorders, medications can ease symptoms so you can focus on therapy. Care is coordinated with psychiatric services to monitor benefits and side effects. Medication is one tool within a broader plan, not a stand-alone solution.
Holistic Supports and Relapse Prevention
You may practice mindfulness, fitness, and sleep hygiene, learn craving management skills, and build a relapse prevention plan. Peer and alumni connections, along with support groups in your community, can reinforce positive changes after formal care.
Inpatient and Outpatient Programs for Addiction and Mental Health Treatment
Our treatment centers offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for co-occurring disorders. The right one for you depends on your needs and personal circumstances.
Inpatient Treatment
When you choose an inpatient program:
- You stay in the rehab center.
- A rehab team is available 24/7 to offer medical and emotional support.
- The treatment lasts one to six months.
- Treatment is designed for severe cases of drug or alcohol addiction.
- There are fewer distractions from daily life.
Outpatient Treatment
When it comes to an outpatient program:
- You live at home and attend treatment during the day or evening.
- You maintain a more normal routine compared to an inpatient program.
- The treatment lasts three months to one year.
- The plan can be suited to those who have already completed residential care.
- You spend at least 10 to 12 hours a week at the outpatient rehab center.
Outpatient care is less restrictive than inpatient care, but residential treatment may be necessary for someone who needs close monitoring during medically managed detox or who has significant safety concerns.
Overcoming Stigma to Find Help
One barrier to dual diagnosis is stigma. Some people mistakenly view addiction as a failure of willpower and mental illness as weakness. These beliefs overlook how mental health and substance challenges often reinforce one another. Our teams understand that shame is a common part of the experience, and we prioritize respectful, person-first language and confidential care every step of the way.
What to Expect at Promises Behavioral Health
From the first call, our clinicians take time to understand your history, symptoms, and goals. You will receive coordinated care that addresses both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder. If you want to explore our continuum of care in Massachusetts, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, or Pennsylvania, you can learn more about our mental health treatment programs and how they align with addiction care.
Warning Signs and When to Seek Help
Reach out for help if you notice:
- Escalating drug use or alcohol use to cope with emotions
- Frequent panic, hopelessness, or swings in mood
- Social withdrawal, missed responsibilities, or unsafe behaviors
- Thoughts of self harm or suicidal thoughts
For any immediate danger, call 911. You can also call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for urgent support. After you are safe, we can help you plan next steps for ongoing care.
How Families Can Support a Loved One
Families can be powerful partners in recovery. Helpful steps include:
- Learning about co-occurring disorders and how symptoms interact
- Practicing calm, nonjudgmental communication
- Setting healthy boundaries, such as clear expectations about substance use in the home
- Encouraging follow-up appointments and medication adherence when prescribed
- Taking care of your own well-being
For tools you can use today, visit the Promises Family Resource Center.
Reach Out to Promises Behavioral Health for Dual Diagnosis Treatment
If a loved one is struggling with both substance abuse and a mental health condition, dual diagnosis treatment can help them regain stability and confidence. Contact our team at 888.483.7451 for a confidential conversation, or learn more about our mission and values on the About Promises Behavioral Health page. We are here to help you take the next step toward real recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Dual diagnosis treatment centers specialize in treating individuals who have both mental health disorders and substance use disorders, providing integrated care to address both conditions simultaneously for better recovery outcomes.
You can locate dual diagnosis treatment centers near you by searching online directories, contacting local mental health organizations, or calling helplines that connect you with nearby rehab, inpatient, and residential programs tailored to co-occurring disorders.
Dual diagnosis treatment programs typically include individual counseling, group therapy, medication management, and holistic therapies, all designed to address both mental health and substance use issues in a comprehensive manner.
Yes, there are specialized dual diagnosis treatment centers in states like Florida and Texas that offer a variety of services, including detox, inpatient and residential care, counseling, group therapy, and aftercare planning for individuals with co-occurring disorders.