Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment
Co-occurring disorders or comorbidity is a term used to describe conditions in which two or more illnesses are simultaneously present for one person. These can occur in conjunction with each other or one after the other. The interactions between the illnesses can exacerbate the conditions, which is why co-occurring disorder treatment in our young adult rehab is important.
Research shows people who suffer from trauma and/or substance use are more likely to also suffer from mood and anxiety disorders and vice versa. We have found that there are times when the substance use begins as an effort to manage symptoms experienced as a result of mood or anxiety disorders – referred to as “self–medicating.” In other cases, these conditions have been the result of the substance use itself and may subside once the drug or alcohol use has ceased. In either case, substance use must be discontinued in order to determine any co-occurring disorders and to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment approach.
Due to the high rate of co-occurring disorders and difficulty treating them in active addiction, it is important to assess for these conditions and collect data and information on the history of their development with each individual. We believe treatment must include a comprehensive approach that incorporates treatment for co-occurring disorders. Creating a clinical program focused around meeting both mental health and substance use needs is imperative in treating the whole individual.
Our clinical team is comprised of Master-level therapists, dually licensed in mental health and addiction disciplines. Our staff completes a comprehensive assessment to begin understanding the challenges of each individual in order to create a personalized treatment plan to ensure both mental health and substance use needs are met. By addressing co-occurring illnesses along with substance use disorders and unresolved trauma, the likelihood of reducing symptoms increases along with the probability of sustained recovery.