Addressing Mental Health in Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Plans

Why do you think the majority of addiction treatment centers fail?

There’s a problem, and here’s the truth… the majority of addiction rehab centers treat addiction as an individual issue. They target the alcohol or drug use and miss the entire internal stuff that has been going on.

But here’s the thing.

Alcohol, drug, and substance abuse issues do not operate as single issues. In fact, mental health issues and substance abuse go hand-in-hand in most of the cases, if not all.

If you’re treating one and not the other, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Look at the stats;

Nearly 45% of people with substance use disorders have at least one mental illness, and vice-versa.

That’s right, almost half of all the people that need addiction treatment also struggle with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions.

And for the longest time, addiction and mental health have been treated separately.

The Short Overview:

• Addressing mental health in addiction rehab treatment plans
• The strong correlation between dual diagnosis and addiction
• Comprehensive treatment for addiction
• All in all

Problems with Addiction Treatment

Can I let you into a secret that most addiction treatment centers don’t want to acknowledge?

Addiction treatment does not work in a million cases because it treats the results but not the causes. A person can attend a 30-day program, stay sober for some months, and eventually fall off the wagon again.

A relapse is normally caused by unresolved mental health issues and no system is in place to help the individual work past the underlying causes of addiction.

Imagine this:

Someone has been using drugs to cope with untreated depression or trauma, now if that person is not given proper mental health treatment alongside, as soon as that individual is made to stay sober or clean from substances, the old behaviors are likely to return.

This is why comprehensive drug, alcohol, and substance addiction treatment like alcohol and drug rehab in Great Falls and other top treatment facilities are now integrating mental health treatment into their standard addiction treatment programs.

Makes complete sense, right?

What Is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis is a really broad term. In fact, most people might have a dual diagnosis and never know it. Dual diagnosis is any case in which a person is suffering from substance use disorder at the same time as a mental health condition.

This can include:

• Depression and alcohol addiction
• Anxiety and prescription drug abuse
• PTSD and heroin use
• Bipolar disorder and cocaine addiction

The lists go on and on. The confusing part about dual diagnosis is that one condition fuels the other.

Your mental illness might be causing you to abuse drugs or alcohol, and then the drug or alcohol abuse may be worsening your mental health symptoms and vice-versa.

Addiction and dual diagnosis are so strongly correlated that recent data showed that 31.5% of adults with any mental illness also had a substance use disorder.

Why Integrated Treatment Works Better

Surprise!

Integrated treatment programs in which the mental health condition and the addiction are treated simultaneously have better recovery outcomes than programs that don’t.

If a treatment program understands both conditions, provides appropriate medication and therapy for both issues, coordinates the care plan, and equips a person with triggers and skills for both disorders… Something magical happens.

Patients begin to see the correlation between their mental health and drug or alcohol use.

They work through trauma, they learn healthy coping strategies for both mental health symptoms and triggers, and most importantly… their chances for long-term recovery increase significantly.

The Necessary Ingredients for Mental Health-Focused Addiction Treatment

When we look at the best addiction treatment that focuses on mental health here’s what it looks like;

Thorough Assessment

A proper assessment is the building block for an effective and thorough addiction treatment.

A deep assessment covers not only a person’s drug or alcohol use history but also mental health history, trauma and life experiences, family history, and current symptoms and triggers.

One-On-One Therapy

Addiction and mental health counseling and treatment takes place through individual therapy.

A qualified therapist helps you to establish the relationship between your mental health and addiction, they work with you to create and develop healthy coping strategies and also address the underlying trauma.

CBT and DBT are some of the evidence-based treatments that have a proven track record in the treatment of mental health conditions and addiction.

Medication Management

There’s this aspect of mental health conditions that most people don’t like to talk about;

Therapy alone may not be enough.

Many people will require some form of medication for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, and others.

Comprehensive and dual diagnosis treatment includes psychiatric support and treatment for mental health conditions. This may also include careful and proper medication management of mental health conditions alongside substance abuse addiction treatment.

This means that the psychiatrists and medical doctors on staff are conversant with psychiatric medications as well as how they will affect addiction treatment and vice-versa. It’s a fine balancing act but when it’s done properly, it has a large impact.

Group Therapy and Peer Support

In group therapy, there is power. Group therapy allows you to connect with other people that you can relate with, share experiences, learn from each other, and build networks of support and friendships.

Peer support groups that address both mental health and addiction are amazing because group members realize that they are not the only ones in that boat.

Group members learn from each other’s experiences with both dual diagnosis and addiction and create a network of community.

Holistic Treatment Approach

Addiction and mental health issues do not only affect your brain. They also affect your body as a whole.

That’s why comprehensive and mental health-focused treatment also include exercise regimens, nutrition, mindfulness and meditation, yoga and other mind-body practices, and even art or music therapy.

A healthy mind and body will significantly help you in the treatment and management of both mental health and substance abuse disorders.

Choosing a Comprehensive Treatment Program

Not all addiction treatment programs are the same…

When seeking help, some questions need to be asked. Does the rehab center conduct proper mental health assessments? Do they have staff trained in dual diagnosis treatment? Is there access to psychiatric care and medication management?

Questions like these will help you determine whether the program will focus on the complete person or just one aspect.

Comprehensive treatment that also addresses mental health is no longer an option. We have such a high percentage of people with both addiction and mental health conditions, treatment has to be integrated.

Addiction treatment and mental health as separate issues are in the past. The evidence is overwhelming, if both conditions are treated simultaneously, the patients have a higher chance of complete recovery.

If you or a loved one has been struggling with addiction and mental health issues, do not go for a program that treats one and not the other. Seek out comprehensive care that addresses both. Because recovery is not only about getting clean or sober… It’s about total healing from the inside out.