Dual-Diagnosis Treatment

Of those struggling with substance addiction, many also suffer from depression, anxiety, intimacy issues, sex addiction, codependency, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other afflictions. The term “dual diagnosis” is applied to such individuals, who often have a substance use disorder in addition to a mood disorder such as bipolar disorder (also called manic depression) and depression. A dual diagnosis means that the patient has two distinct disorders or illnesses, each one requiring a particular plan of treatment.

For many, many years, the systems of care employed to treat dual diagnosis patients have remained separated from each other, which has cemented the lack of sound options available to sufferers. On a national level, few drug treatment centers are equipped to effectively implement the integrated treatments required for a dual diagnosis patient. A detox, on its own, is not enough. Behavioral therapy, support groups and specialized medicine can work in concert to treat the patient, alleviating symptoms and giving him or her a fresh start.

At South Coast Counseling, we treat those who are diagnosed with one or more of a number of disorders relating to the use of alcohol or other substances. We also provide treatments for those patients who have such a disorder in addition to a mental health disorder. The latter type of client has what is called a Co-Occurring Disorder (COD).

The term “substance use disorder” includes drug or alcohol abuse, and also the dependency on these. Those who experience a chemical dependency on alcohol or drugs can also have a mood or anxiety disorder. Occasionally, a client will have a severe mental health disorder, in which episodes and symptoms are long-lasting and negatively affect his or her ability to cope with every day stressors and events. In the past, alcohol and substance use disorders were treated separately from each other.

A diagnosis of Co-Occurring Disorders results when the symptoms of a substance abuse disorder and a mental disorder are established independently of each other. In such cases, the client’s symptoms cannot be conveniently attributed to a single cause. Therefore, a Co-Occurring Disorder is a more complex issue, and coping with it requires an impartial expert. The statistics surrounding CODs are staggering:

• Approximately 8.9 million adults have co-occurring disorders, meaning that they have both a mental and substance use disorder.
• Only 7.4 percent of these individuals receive treatment for both conditions.
• 55.8 percent receive no treatment at all.

If you believe that you or a loved one is suffering from multiple disorders or have been diagnosed with a Co-Occurring Disorder, please contact us.

True Dual-Diagnosis Treatment at South Coast Counseling

At South Coast Counseling, you can rest assured that you or your loved one will receive compassionate, expert treatment. Our clinical team includes licensed therapists, medical doctors and clinical psychologists. We are therefore extremely well-equipped to treat dual diagnosis patients.

If you believe that you or a loved one is suffering from multiple disorders or received a dual diagnosis, please contact us immediately.