According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, substance abuse is more common among people with a mental health issue than in those without. In fact, about 9.2 million adults had both a substance use disorder and a mental illness in 2018. Nearly half of all people with substance use disorders have a mental illness. Both substance abuse and mental health issues cause significant changes in brain chemistry, making it difficult to overcome addiction alone. Treating these issues requires a dedicated Pennsylvania co-occurring disorder treatment center. At Positive Pathways, our experienced staff can treat your co-occurring disorders while setting you on the road to recovery.
What is a Co-Occurring Disorder?
A co-occurring disorder is when a psychiatric disorder is present along with a substance abuse issue. This is also often referred to as a “dual diagnosis.” Some common mental conditions that can fuel addiction are depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Individuals with a mental health issue are more likely to abuse substances than the general population. For this reason, they need a Pennsylvania co-occurring disorder treatment program.
For those living with mental illness, a few factors can make them more likely to abuse substances. They may have a family history of substance abuse, which increases their risk of also abusing substances. They might use drugs or alcohol to manage the symptoms of their mental health issues. Finally, drug or alcohol abuse can make the symptoms of a psychiatric disorder worse, triggering the onset of a latent mental illness.
Our Pennsylvania Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment Center
Positive Pathways offers treatment for clients living with co-occurring disorders. We understand that these patients require an intensive, highly personal approach to care. Therefore, we tailor each treatment plan to the client’s diagnosis, medical history, psychological needs, and emotional condition.
Treatment for co-occurring disorders begins with a complete evaluation to determine the client’s needs, identify their personal strengths, and find potential barriers to recovery. Utilizing this information, the treatment team at our outpatient dual-diagnosis treatment center can develop a plan of care that treats both the client’s substance abuse and mental illness simultaneously.
Some clients may already be aware they have a psychiatric diagnosis prior to their first visit with our psychiatrist. However, others might be receiving this diagnosis for the first time. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 60 percent of adults diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder reported receiving no therapeutic help in the previous 12 months. Yet for these individuals, a Pennsylvania co-occurring disorder treatment program represents a new source of hope.
In order to treat both conditions successfully, a co-occurring disorders treatment center in Pennsylvania needs mental health and recovery services that are integrated. Unless both issues are addressed at the same time, the outcomes of treatment will be negatively impacted. A client with a serious mental illness who is treated only for addiction is likely to either drop out of treatment early or to experience a relapse of either psychiatric symptoms or substance abuse.
Contact Positive Pathways for our Pennsylvania Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment Center
While at our Pennsylvania Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment Center, our treatment methods include:
- Intensive individual therapy with a psychiatrist or therapist to address the symptoms and challenges of the psychiatric disorder
- Behavioral modification therapies (cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy) to teach coping skills and also increase self-awareness
- Medication therapy to help manage psychiatric symptoms or to reduce the cravings for drugs or alcohol
- Group therapy with peers who are also faced with the challenges of a dual diagnosis
- Introduction to 12-step principles to initiate the process of spiritual recovery
If you or your loved one is ready to take the next step to treat co-occurring disorders, experienced staff at our co-occurring disorders treatment center in Pennsylvania is ready to help. Contact us today at 412.224.2812 to find out more about our outpatient co-occurring disorder treatment center.