Dual Diagnosis Drug Treatment

Rehabs are available all over the United States. The question is, which is the best rehab. Surprise, there is no best rehab, only rehabs that provide quality treatment. Now the question becomes, which is the best addiction treatment for me? Only, an addiction professional can really answer that question and only after a thorough evaluation.

Any quality rehab will provide you an evaluation at no cost, where a therapist will charge their normal fee. After receiving a better understanding of what you are dealing with, the issue becomes, what are you willing to do about it. don’t try and take th easy way out. You only want to have to receive addiction treatment once. Find an inpatient drug rehab, with a competent staff and a variety of addiction treatment services.

For additional information you may call the addiction treatment helpline at 1-800-99-DETOX.

Bookmark to:

Drug Treatment

Drug treatment is a term used to describe the process by which an individual gains the understanding and tools to rebuild their lives and learn to live a normal, drug and alcohol free life. Often drug treatment is not only the process of going through a rehab, but also a life-long process to abstain from drug use. Drug treatment consists of many different phases. First and usually most physically demanding, is the detox phase. It is in this phase of the rehab process that the toxins resulting from the drug abuse are removed from the body. Depending on the seriousness of the drug addiction and the drugs used, this process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Complete drug treatment cannot begin until the body has become independent of the drug’s harmful and addictive toxins. Secondly, drug rehab moves on to the educational and skills-building phase. In this phase, the addict meets with counselors and undergoes group and individual therapy to understand the powerful illness of addiction and the most effective ways for that individual to overcome his or her disease. The length of this process depends on the individual and severity of the drug addiction. Often, for more serious addictions, long term drug rehab is recommended, lasting a period of 2 to 3 months. The third and longest phase of drug rehabilitation is after rehab has been completed. It is in this phase that an addict must take the skills learned at the drug rehab and apply them to the real world in order to maintain sobriety. This process will not end for the rest of the addict’s life and it is here that many addicts experience relapse, forcing them back into the rehab process, starting at the beginning with the often painful and dangerous detox phase.

With the continuing rise in numbers of people addicted to illegal, prescription, and over the counter drugs and alcohol, drug rehabilitation centers have played a central role in helping millions recover from the often life threatening disease of addiction. Since so many different kinds of people suffer from drug addiction, including more and more teens these days, a blanket approach to drug rehabilitation is no longer efficient in this battle. Today, drug rehabilitation comes in a variety of forms, some of which include residential, outpatient, sober living homes, support groups, and long term rehab. In the fight to regain control over their lives, addicts and alcoholics must determine what kind of addiction treatment is best for their rehabilitation to be successful. Some mild cases of drug addiction are adequately addressed by outpatient rehab programs. Here, the addict can attend therapy and counseling sessions on a group and individual basis several times a week for a few hours after work, then return home at the end of the day. Many of these programs are coupled with group meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous as well. For more serious addictions, many drug rehabilitation centers offer residential treatment programs. Here, an addict will undergo more intense therapy in a residential setting where they will live amongst certified counselors and therapists for whatever length of time is necessary. Generally, the minimum length of time spent at a residential drug rehabilitation center is 28 days, however depending on the severity of the drug addiction, some addicts may require longer stays up to and beyond 3 months. These residential treatment programs are usually coupled with support groups. For many addicts, it is recommended that they continue aftercare once the drug rehab program has been completed. In this part of the rehab process, an addict will live at a place called a sober living home. This is more like a transitional living environment where recovering addicts will live amongst one another in a substance-free environment while attending work, school, and other outside activities. This serves as a way for addicts to apply the skills they’ve learned in drug rehabilitation to the real world, while still remaining under the umbrella of support they had in rehab. Sober living can serve as a gradual, more seamless transition back into society.

Bookmark to:

With all of the negative coverage pertaining to the success of rehabs these days it makes one wonder, “Does a Rehab Really Work”? While it is fair to say a rehab must have certain clinical elements present to effect change, much of it has to do with the individual. Rehab has very little to do with private bedrooms, swimming pools or five star cuisine, but is all about the internal changes a person needs to make.

If an individual is not motivated to anything necessary to effect change, then the plushest rehab in the world won’t make a difference. It is rare that the rehab itself fails. It is the responsibility the patient runs from that results in relapse behavior. the individual must be willing to follow suggestions, be honest and in most cases, develop a new way of living. More than anything they must realize that they can not depend on their thinking alone and be willing to embrace help.

Bookmark to:

Dual Diagnosis: Substance Use and Drug Addiction

Those who struggle both with serious mental illness and substance abuse face problems of enormous proportions. Mental health services are often not well prepared to deal with patients having both afflictions. Often only one of the two problems is identified. If both are recognized, the individual may bounce back and forth between services for mental illness and those for substance abuse, or they may be refused treatment by each of them.

While the picture regarding dual diagnosis has not been very positive in the past, there are signs that the problem is being recognized and there is an increasing number of programs trying to address it. It is now generally agreed that as much as 50 percent of the mentally ill population also has a substance abuse problem. The drug most commonly used is alcohol, followed by marijuana and cocaine. Prescription drugs such as tranquilizers and sleeping medicines may also be abused. The incidence of abuse is greater among males and those in the aged 18 to 44. People with mental illnesses may abuse drugs covertly without their families knowing it. It is now reported that both families of mentally ill relatives and mental health professionals underestimate the amount of drug addiction among people in their care. There may be several reasons for this. It may be difficult to separate the behaviors due to mental illness from those due to drugs. There may be a degree of denial of the problem because we have had so little to offer people with the combined illnesses. Caregivers might prefer not to acknowledge such a frightening problem when so little hope has been offered.

Substance abuse complicates almost every aspect of care for the person with mental illness. First, these individuals are very difficult to engage in dual diagnosis treatment. Diagnosis is difficult because it takes time to unravel the interacting effects of substance abuse and the mental illness. They may have difficulty being accommodated at home and may not be tolerated in community residences of rehabilitation programs. They lose their support systems and suffer frequent relapses and hospitalizations. Violence is more prevalent among the dually diagnosed population. Both domestic violence and suicide attempts are more common, and of the mentally ill who wind up in jails and prisons, there is a high percentage of drug abusers.

Given severe consequences of drug abuse for the mentally ill, it is reasonable to ask: “Why do they do it?” Some of them may begin to use drugs or alcohol for recreational use, the same as many other people do. Various factors may account for their continued use. Probably many people continue their use as a misguided attempt to treat symptoms of the illness or the side effects of their medications. By “self-medicating,” they find that they can reduce the level of anxiety or depression — at least for the short term. Some professionals speculate that there may be some underlying vulnerability of the individual that precipitates both mental illness and substance abuse. They believe that these individuals may be at risk with even mild drug use.

Social factors may also play a part in continued use. People with mental illnesses suffer from what has been called “downward drift.” This means that as a consequence of their illness they may find themselves living in marginal neighborhoods where drug use prevails. Having great difficulty developing social relationships, some people find themselves more easily accepted by groups whose social activity is based on drug use. Some may believe that an identity based on drug addiction is more acceptable than one based on mental illness.

This overview of the problem of drugs and mental illness may not be a very positive one. However, there are some encouraging signs that better understanding of the problem and potential treatments are on the way. Just as consumers and families have faced other very troublesome problems in the past and developed adequate responses to them, they can also learn to deal with this one in a way that their lives become less troubled and better dual diagnosis treatment is received.

Bookmark to:

Mood Disorder Treatment

Treatment of Major Depression and Treatment for Bipolar Disorder works, even when in the midst of a drug addiction or alcoholism.

Today’s world is a complex and stressful world. Many people have difficult lives, trying to balance the demands of high pressure jobs with the desire for a family life. Many have been stressed and exhausted beyond the point of natural recovery. Depression is becoming increasingly common, and further erodes at the individual’s quality of life. The experience of happiness increasingly seems like a faint memory. Many people turn to drugs for relief and end up suffering from drug addiction too. This is known as dual diagnosis. The needless suffering of depression can be brought to an end, and often rather quickly.

First the person undergoes drug detox in an inpatient detox program and enters rehab for treatment of their dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis treatment usually takes place in an inpatient drug rehab which provides structure, safety, psychiatric and addiction treatment.

Bipolar Disorder Treatment:

Previously known as “Manic Depression”, this disorder involves uncontrolled and often unpredictable mood swings. With the exception of the obvious cases, Bipolar Disorder is often difficult to diagnose and is commonly misdiagnosed. When a person uses drugs or alcohol as a means of coping with their bipolar disorder they have an even more complicated problem to deal with; dual diagnosis.

Medication is essential for this condition, and can help restore an often greatly deteriorated level of stability and functioning. The needless suffering of both patient and family can end with the new-found stability of a successful dual diagnosis treatment regimen. When correctly diagnosed and properly treated, most individuals with Bipolar Disorder can be fully functional.
Dual diagnosis treatment can be found by calling the national helpline at 1-800-99-DETOX.

Bookmark to:

What is dual diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis is the term used when a person has a mood disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) and a problem with alcohol or drugs. A person who has a dual diagnosis has two separate illnesses, and each illness needs its own treatment plan. There is help and hope. You can call the dual diagnosis treatment helpline at 1-800-511-9225.
Mood disorders and alcohol/drug problems are both treatable illnesses. They are not moral weaknesses or character flaws. They can affect anyone, regardless of age, ethnicity or economic background. Studies have shown that more than half of the people who have depression or bipolar disorder also use alcohol and/or drugs.
What is self-medication?
Sometimes people may use alcohol or drugs to help cover up or mask symptoms of a mood disorder. For example, if a person’s mind is racing because of mania, a drink of alcohol may slow it down. If a person has intense sadness or hopelessness because of depression, a drug may help him or her feel happy or hopeful for a period of time. This “self-medication” may appear to help, but it actually makes things worse. After the temporary effects of the alcohol or drugs wear off, a person’s symptoms are often worse than ever. Self-medication can cause a person’s mood
What are the symptoms of mood disorders?
Knowing the symptoms of mood disorders can help you decide to seek help. You can’t diagnose yourself. Only a health care professional can diagnose and treat a mood disorder. When a person’s mood switches between depression and mania, it is called bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression).
Why is it important to treat both the mood disorder and the alcohol/drug use?
When neither illness is treated, one illness can make the other worse. When only one illness is treated, addiction treatment is less likely to be effective. When both illnesses are treated, the chances for a full and lasting recovery are greatly improved, and it is easier to return to a full and productive life.
Why is it important to stay clean and sober when getting dual diagnosis treatment?
Mixing alcohol or drugs with medication can have serious and dangerous effects. Many medications, including over-the-counter medications, interact with alcohol or drugs in harmful ways. It is also unlikely that you will benefit from talk therapy if you are under the influence.
What should I expect from dual diagnosis treatment?
You may need to go to more than one doctor and attend more than one support group. All of your treatment providers should be aware that you have a dual diagnosis. Treatment for your mood disorder may include counseling or psychotherapy, medication and DBSA support groups where you can share your experience living with depression or bipolar disorder. Treatment for your alcohol and/or drug use may include some type of recovery group. If you are drinking or using every day, you and your doctor may decide that you need to check into a hospital or addiction treatment center so you can be treated for physical withdrawal symptoms. After treating the withdrawal, you will need to treat the addiction. This may include a residential or outpatient alcohol/drug treatment center, a 12-step group or another group that focuses on living without substances. In these groups, you will learn how others stopped drinking or using, how to cope with cravings and urges to drink or use, and how to live comfortably without the use of alcohol or drugs.

Bookmark to:

Dual diagnosis treatment does not have to take place in a psychiatric hospital. The individual that requires a psychiatric hospital for dual diagnosis treatment is usually the person a danger to themselves or others or the individual whose psychiatric disorder requires continual supervision and support. The vast majority of people suffering from forms of depression, bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder, in conjunction with a drug addiction, can generally do fine in a drug rehabilitation center.

A drug rehabilitation center will treat these disorders concurrently with the psychiatrist and clinicians working as a team. The clinicians in the drug treatment center must be skilled in mental health treatment, as well as, drug addiction and alcoholism. The psychiatrist at the dual diagnosis program should be ASAM certified which provides them with a thorough understanding with addiction.

To locate a dual diagnosis treatment center you can call the national dual diagnosis treatment helpline at 1-800-511-9225.

Bookmark to: