Addiction treatment is rarely straightforward. While detox and withdrawal are physical symptoms, addiction has a psychological aspect that cannot be treated with just medications. It is not unusual for various mental health issues to play a contributing factor in someone’s addiction. In cases where there is an underlying mental health disorder, incorporating a co-occurring competent program into their addiction treatment plan can result in a higher chance of success.
At Gemini Recovery, we are committed to helping clients overcome addiction and achieve lifelong sobriety. We offer a wide variety of therapies and programs, including a co-occurring competent treatment program, that results in holistic healing in genuine recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and mental health concerns, contact us at 888.341.2524 to learn more about what we can offer.
What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?
When someone has both a substance abuse disorder and a mental disorder, they have co-occurring disorders. These two conditions often occur together, and it is sometimes difficult to assess which condition came first. Substance use and mental health issues occur together due to:
- Common risk factors that can contribute to both mental health disorders and substance use disorders. These factors include both genetics and environmental factors such as stress or trauma.
- People with mental health disorders can sometimes turn to substances to self-medicate, however, this may eventually worsen the symptoms that they were initially attempting to alleviate. Additionally, the abuse of substances may even trigger new symptoms. Aside from this, some mental health issues can make people become more vulnerable to developing an addiction.
- The abuse of substances can change the way someone’s brain works, leading them to develop a mental health disorder. Similarly, people who are already at risk of developing a mental health disorder will have the chances of it manifesting increased.
- Abusing substances while in treatment for a mental health condition may decrease the efficacy of medications meant to address the mental health disorder and its symptoms.
Struggling with a mental health disorder or addiction is already difficult, but additional challenges may occur when both are present. There may be adverse interactions in prescribed medications for either condition. Difficulties in pinpointing the source of a specific issue may lead to ineffective treatment. There may also be a domino effect during relapse, where a relapse in one disorder may trigger a relapse in the other. Treating both conditions through co-occurring competent treatment increases the chances of successful recovery through a coordinated treatment plan that addresses both at the same time.
What Are the Benefits of a Co-Occurring Competent Treatment Program?
There are many benefits to opting for a co-occurring competent treatment program when getting addiction treatment with a diagnosed mental health disorder. A few of them are:
- Increased chances of successful recovery – When both the addiction and mental health issues are addressed, there are fewer chances for an untreated disorder causing a relapse.
- Improved mental health – This enabled clients to learn positive coping skills and break negative patterns that are detrimental to their sobriety and mental well-being.
- Improved physical health – Both addiction and mental health concerns can lead to physical issues that can negatively affect recovery.
A co-occurring competent treatment plan can help clients correctly identify and address the cause of their addiction, allowing them to achieve true recovery. A dual diagnosis can also lead to better long-term after-treatment care, with the client having access to the proper maintenance treatment for their mental health concerns.
Contact Gemini Recovery for Addiction Treatment in Pennsylvania
Gemini Recovery in Pennsylvania offers co-occurring competent care as part of our addiction treatment programs. Our friendly and experienced team utilizes various therapies in order to help clients achieve long-lasting recovery and lifetime sobriety. If you or a loved one is looking for quality addiction care in PA, contact us at 888.341.2524 or reach out online today to get started.
