Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Colorado: Addressing the Source of Your Addiction

Up until the 1990s, patients who presented with mental health conditions and psychiatric conditions were treated very differently than how they're treated by many clinics today. Psychiatric disorders and addiction disorders were seen as separate entities that each required their own specific treatment plans, and so, the two types of therapy were never combined. While this may have been fine for some patients, the majority of patients who received this type of treatment were not able to successfully recover from their addictions. In fact, their psychiatric issues became worse in many cases, which led to a constant cycle of addiction that wasn't able to be broken.

In fact, their psychiatric issues became worse in many cases, which led to a constant cycle of addiction that wasn't able to be broken.

Today, dual diagnosis treatment has changed the way that many addiction treatment centers view the needs of their patients. It was discovered that by combining treatment methods, it was possible to successfully treat many more patients who desperately needed to be free from their addictions, and get their psychiatric symptoms under control.

Perhaps the idea that you could be treated for your addiction and your mental health condition at the same time really appeals to you, but you still have a lot of questions about it too. Questions like:

• What exactly is a dual diagnosis?
• Why is integrated dual disorder treatment needed in Colorado?
• How do you know if you need to go to dual diagnosis rehab?
• Is inpatient dual diagnosis treatment really necessary, or can it be done on an outpatient basis?
• Where can you get help for co-occurring disorders in Colorado?

Here at Northpoint Recovery, we want to be able to answer these and any other questions you might have about dual diagnosis treatment. Getting your questions answered will help you understand whether or not this is a treatment method you should pursue for yourself.

What is the Dual Diagnosis Definition?

When you have a dual diagnosis, this refers to the presence of one or more psychiatric illnesses alongside an addiction. There are a lot of different mental health illnesses this could be referring to, including:

• Major depressive disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Borderline personality disorder

For the longest time, it was the norm to treat these and other mental health conditions separately. Patients would present for treatment, and if they were found to have an addiction and a psychiatric illness, they were sent to detox first, and then either drug or alcohol rehab. They were only treated for their psychiatric illnesses once their addictions were under control, and they were clean or sober for a period of time. There are actually some clinics and even inpatient treatment facilities that operate on the assumption that this is the way co-occurring disorders should be treated. It often creates a great deal of confusion with treatment plans that aren't coordinated with each other. More often than not, patients end up relapsing, and then the entire cycle happens again.

The Need for Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment in Colorado

Integrated dual disorder treatment and treatment for co-occurring disorders are two other ways to reference dual diagnosis treatment. There is certainly a need for it in Colorado. A growing number of people are finding that they actually have mental health conditions and addictions simultaneously. In fact, in 2002, there were 4 million people who feel under the criteria of having a dual diagnosis, but only 12% of them received treatment for their co-occurring disorders.

Statistics tell us that:

• If you have schizophrenia, you are more than four times more likely to have an addiction as well.
• If you have bipolar disorder, you are more than five times more likely to have an addiction.
• 53% of those who abuse drugs also have at least one mental disorder.
• 37% of those who abuse alcohol also have at least one mental disorder.
• Only 7.4% of the people in the U.S. who have co-occurring disorders ever receive the type of treatment they need to recover.

Are these statistics surprising to you? They certainly point to a definite need for integrated dual disorder treatment in Colorado.

Signs that Dual Diagnosis Rehab in Colorado is Right for You

You might not be completely sure that dual diagnosis rehab is the right course of action for you, but there are some signs you can look for that indicate that it is. These may include:

• Finding that you're neglecting your own need for care.
• Feeling too depressed to reach out for the help you need.
• Feeling anxious about contacting anyone for help because you prefer to be left alone.
• Experiencing denial about the fact that you have a mental illness and an addiction.
• Choosing to use drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with your mental health symptoms.

Have you noticed any of these as being a part of the way you feel? If so, it's definitely time to reach out for help. Dual diagnosis treatment can help you in ways you never would have imagined, and you can find the healing you truly want, both from your addiction, and from your psychiatric symptoms.

Outpatient Treatment vs. Inpatient Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Colorado

Even though there is certainly a place for outpatient treatment when it comes to addiction, most people have found that they really needed the level of support that was available to them in an inpatient setting. This may even be truer in cases of co-occurring disorders.

People who have co-occurring disorders generally have more needs than those who only suffer from addiction alone. When you choose inpatient dual diagnosis treatment, you have the benefit of:

• Being able to talk with your counselor on a regular basis and get consistent support.
• Being able to have your psychiatric medications modified and adjusted to the appropriate levels for your needs.
• Being able to participate in support groups, which have been proven to be very effective in treating co-occurring disorders.
• Being able to have the opportunity to converse with your family in family sessions and gain their understanding and support.
• Being able to take the time you need to focus on your own recovery without worrying about any outside stress or distractions.

While outpatient treatment can be effective, most people appreciate the support that's really needed when they are in dual diagnosis treatment.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers in Colorado and Choosing Northpoint Recovery

If you are in need of treatment for an addiction, and you also have a mental health condition, there's no doubt that there are places for you to get help in Colorado. However, many clinics still subscribe to the theory that addiction and psychiatric illnesses should be treated separately, instead of together. The link between the two is very strong, and research has proven that dual diagnosis treatment offers people a much higher chance of being successful with their recoveries.

If you're interested in learning more about whether or not dual diagnosis treatment is the right avenue for you to pursue to get help, at Northpoint Recovery, we'd like to help you. While it might seem a bit scary to venture out of state to get help for an addiction, most people find it to be incredibly helpful in the long run. It allows them to take some time away from home and really concentrate on getting better without a lot of outside distractions. We're confident that we can help you with your addiction recovery. To learn more, please contact us today.