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A substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental health disorder that impacts an individual’s behavior and brain. This leads to the individual’s inability to control their use of substances like illegal or legal drugs, medications, or alcohol.
Researchers say that around 50% of people who experience a substance use disorder will also have a co-occurring mental health disorder. That is to say that people who struggle with substance abuse are likely to have a dual diagnosis.
Pacific Palms Recovery in San Diego, California, offers dual diagnosis treatment for substance use and mental health disorders at our outpatient treatment facility. With treatment, long-term recovery from both disorders is possible.
Types of Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders
1. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Individuals with ADHD may be more tempted to use substances to help them deal with their symptoms. Many individuals with ADHD are prescribed stimulants by their health care provider. These can become habit-forming and lead to a harmful pattern of substance abuse.
2. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Research has shown that BPD and addiction often occur together. Between 34% to 73% of individuals with BPD have experienced some form of substance abuse at some point in their lifetime.
3. Bipolar Disorder
Almost half of the individuals with bipolar disorder also suffer from addiction. Like with any other disorder, individuals with bipolar disorder may be tempted to self-medicate. Alcohol and drugs offer them a source of temporary relief from manic episodes and emotional situations.
4. Depression
Many individuals who receive a depression diagnosis try to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. This frequently makes the issue worse. For people who have a pre-existing depressive condition, the crash after the high can devastate them.
5. Eating Disorders
An eating disorder often stems from the individual experiencing a strong feeling of inferiority. Individuals with these disorders often use drugs that help to suppress their appetite.
6. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Individuals who struggle with GAD tend to be at a higher risk of abusing alcohol and drugs to manage their symptoms. Benzodiazepines, a very addictive prescription medication used for anxiety disorder treatment, are also often abused by these individuals.
7. Schizophrenia
This condition is marked by delusional thinking and hallucinations. Since addiction and schizophrenia have overlapping effects, it can be difficult for doctors to diagnose them. When an individual has schizophrenia and abuses substances to self-medicate their illness, they risk harming their health even further.
8. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD causes various unwanted compulsions and obsessions, such as the need to constantly clean and the irrational fear of germs. The illness has many variations. Individuals with OCD frequently struggle with depression and anxiety due to involuntary behavior. This disordered thinking can cause people to abuse substances.
9. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
When an individual develops PTSD, their brain doesn’t create as many endorphins as a healthy brain. This makes the afflicted individual more likely to use drugs or alcohol to feel happy. More than two of 10 Veterans with PTSD are afflicted with SUD as well, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Warning Signs Of A Co-Occurring Disorder
Dual diagnosis signs vary significantly based on the type and severity of the substance abuse and mental health disorders.
Dual diagnosis symptoms can include:
- Difficulty managing day-to-day responsibilities and tasks
- Sudden changes in general behavior
- Neglecting hygiene and health
- Avoiding social activities or events that were once enjoyed
- Refusal to seek treatment or comply
- Cognitive impairments or delusional thinking
- Impulsive and erratic behaviors
- Thoughts of suicide or suicidal behaviors
- Poor performance at work or school
- Issues managing finances
Why do Mental Health Disorders and Substance Use Disorders Occur Together?
Substance use and mental health conditions frequently occur together. However, this doesn’t mean that one condition leads to the other, and discovering which came first happens infrequently.
Researchers believe there are several possibilities why the disorders occur simultaneously:
- Mental health disorders can contribute to substance use disorder and drug use. For instance, individuals with mental illness may temporarily use alcohol or drugs to feel better (self-medication). Also, mental illness may alter the brain, making it more likely for a person to become addicted.
- Common risk factors can contribute to substance use disorders and mental health disorders. These risk factors include stress, genetics, and trauma.
- Addiction and substance use can lead to the development of a mental illness. Substance abuse can change the brain to make people more likely to develop a mental illness.
Why do Mental Health Disorders and Substance Use Disorders Occur Together?
Getting mental health and substance abuse treatment simultaneously rather than separately is better for long-term recovery. Assessment by a healthcare professional can be beneficial for proper diagnosis and treatment. Many dual diagnosis treatment centers have psychiatrists and doctors on staff that can help with co-occurring disorders and treatment plans.
1. Detox and Residential Treatment
Detox is a treatment utilized to rid the body of any substances. This process occurs while under 24/7 care with nursing and doctor supervision. Managing withdrawal symptoms and keeping comfortable is the goal of a detoxification program.
Residential treatment, otherwise known as inpatient, typically occurs immediately after detox and provides 24/7 care while staying at the facility. Inpatient rehab can include individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management as needed.
2. Outpatient Drug Rehab
This is a good resource for individuals who have just completed an inpatient program or those with mild substance abuse issues. An outpatient drug rehab allows individuals struggling with a substance abuse issue to work still and live as usual. An outpatient treatment program enables patients to have a certain level of flexibility while providing quality treatment.
3. Sober Living
Sober living is a program designed for individuals struggling with alcohol or drug addiction who have already gone through detox. They’ve already started their journey to living a sober and clean lifestyle.
But, these individuals realize that they’ll always have the risk of addiction throughout their lives. They will need to develop the required skills to stay clean and sober.
4. Relapse Prevention
Individuals can avoid relapse once their self-defeating ways of thinking and behaviors have been eliminated. Once an individual with addiction gets into recovery, they generally can stop using for brief periods. They then begin hearing the inner voice that makes them believe they can use it again.
A trained and certified relapse prevention counselor will work with the person to help them uncover behaviors that lead to relapse. They’ll help them commit to stopping the substance use. And then, they will form a plan to stop if they do experience a relapse quickly.
They’ll help the individual identify situations that risk their sobriety. While also helping them manage behaviors and traits learned in their high-risk lifestyle. Once that’s accomplished, they’ll tailor a plan to help them with the necessary tools and skills to stay sober.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment in San Diego
Dual diagnosis is an occurrence of substance use and mental health disorders. Treating both disorders simultaneously can help with finding lasting recovery. Treatment plans can be customized to fit individual needs and diagnoses.
Many individuals in San Diego may have co-occurring mental illness and addiction but haven’t yet received a formal diagnosis. If you or someone you love has a mental health disorder and is struggling with addiction or addiction recovery, we are here to help. Contact Pacific Palms Recovery for more information about our dual diagnosis treatment in San Diego.
