Dual Diagnosis in Brookline, MA

Research published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse recognizes that one out of two individuals who suffer from addiction are also diagnosable with chronic mental health conditions. Research further indicates that there is considerable interaction between addiction and mental health. Finding a rehab that offers treatment for dual diagnosis -- treatment that addresses both kinds of disorder -- is essential to any plan to treat an addiction disorder. Dual diagnosis in Brookline is available in some quality rehabs.

What Is the Dual Diagnosis Connection?

A great number of people mess around with serious drugs and binge drinking yet only a very small percentage head down the slippery slope of drug addiction in Brookline. Often, an undetected and untreated psychiatric disorder is the factor that makes the difference.

There are clear reasons why psychiatric disorders should lead to addictive behavior. With some disorders like anxiety or depression, the path to substance abuse tends to be direct -- these substances tend to have effects that directly lower anxiety and boost feelings of well-being. What turns out as a little self-medication with these recreational substances, simply gets out of hand.

The link tends to be similar in other forms of mental disorder, as well. Those with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or OCD often turn to a habit of substance abuse because of feelings of symptomatic relief experience. The effect comes about simply because both addictive substances and mental disorders tend to affect the same brain regions and chemical balances.

You Can't Treat Addiction Without Treating the Related Mental Disorder

When attempting rehab, treating the addiction alone is a recipe for disaster -- when the difficulties of mental disorders push a person to seek relief in substance abuse, leaving the prime motive untreated only ensures the patient continues to have reason to return to substance abuse.

Leaving a mental disorder untreated can be a bad idea in another way, as well. Good psychological health is important to an ability to stay sober. Good psychological health ensures a comfortable and happy mental life; one doesn't need to seek relief in drug abuse. It is for this reason that psychological therapy is always an important part of any rehab program. When a person suffers from psychiatric disorders, however, one tends to simply not be in any condition to work hard on such psychological therapy. When they are unable to focus on their relapse prevention therapy, understandably, they simply relapse.

It's Important to Look for Specific Skill and Experience

Dual diagnosis treatment programs in Brookline tend to be rare. Most rehabs simply treat patients for their addictions and ignore any psychiatric disorders that they may suffer from. Such incomplete treatment is considered a leading cause of failure of rehab. Nevertheless, it isn't enough to simply look for a dual diagnosis treatment center; it's important to look for more. Specific expertise in specific mental conditions is important, as well. Complications arising from anxiety-related addiction, for example, are likely to be different from the complications arising from addiction linked to schizophrenia. Rehabs need to have doctors, psychiatrists, addiction specialists and caregiving staff, with specific training in dealing with the difficulties and challenges involved in specific combinations of mental disorder and addiction. It's important to look for the right dual diagnosis in Brookline.

Ensure That There Is Inpatient Rehab

Rehab can be successful both with the outpatient approach and the inpatient approach. Each is designed for a certain range of applications. Outpatient rehab tends to work very well in mild and straightforward addictions -- addictions in young, healthy people who have not indulged in substance abuse long, or one example; addictions in people who enjoy good mental health is another. In cases where such complications do exist, the patient requires treatment requires closer attention. This is only possible with inpatient rehab. With experts closely watching and planning for every eventuality, inpatient rehab tends to come with improved levels of long-term success.

If you're looking for rehab for dual diagnosis in Brookline, you're on the right track. Whether you're sure of the existence of a mental disorder or not, it makes sense to go to rehab that offers such expertise. Not only is such a rehab likely to be better overall, they are likely to discover psychiatric problems that you are not aware of, as well. Call Brookline Alcohol Treatment Centers now for help (877) 804-1531.