Dual Diagnosis Treatment At Bedrock Recovery Center

It is not uncommon for people with a substance use disorder to also have an anxiety disorder, depression, or another mental health disorder. This is known as a dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorders. Many people living with co-occurring disorders aren’t aware of their condition until they receive treatment and experience an “aha” moment.

At Bedrock Recovery Center, we offer an integrated dual disorder treatment (IDDT) model, recognized as the best practice in dual diagnosis care. This multidisciplinary approach allows you to remain with the same care team, in the same location, as you receive comprehensive care for both disorders at the same time. Treatment is evidence-based, meaning that science has proven it to be effective in helping people recover, and holistic, meaning that it provides a whole-person approach, with a focus not only on your physical and mental health but also on your emotional, social, vocational, and spiritual well-being.

Key Elements Of Our Program

Residential programs at Bedrock begin with a full assessment and evaluation to devise an individualized treatment plan addressing your most pressing care needs as well as your long-term needs and goals.

If ongoing assessments and monitoring during your stay reveal that your care needs or goals have changed, your care team will respond, adjusting your treatment plan.

Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT) Model

When it comes to treatment for dual diagnosis, an integrated approach is preferred. The IDDT model was created by the New Hampshire–Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center and is considered the gold standard in the treatment of co-occurring disorders.

Our care team includes master’s-level therapists and counselors as well as medical professionals trained in both addiction and mental health treatment, plus case managers to help with supportive needs such as legal assistance, help obtaining work leave, or vocational training. Evidence-based treatment and case management services are further bolstered by a wide range of wellness services, including yoga and meditation classes, prosocial activities, and more, plus robust aftercare support.

In addition to improved treatment outcomes, IDDT tends to reduce treatment costs due to eliminating duplication of services.

Medical Detox

If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you arrive at Bedrock, you will most likely begin treatment with medical detox, receiving 24/7 medical supervision and care for your safety and comfort during withdrawal. Through continued monitoring and evaluation after you have stabilized, our onsite psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioners can identify additional diagnoses and other care needs and recommend further treatment.

Behavioral Therapy

Two behavioral therapies are shown to be effective in treating co-occurring disorders, both of which are available here at BRC.

The first is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of talk therapy that addresses your thought patterns or beliefs and how they affect your behavior.

The second is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which is based on CBT but focuses on coping with intense emotions that tend to lead to unwanted behaviors.

CBT and DBT are also proven to be effective in treating addiction alone as well as various mental health disorders alone, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders, as well as grief and chronic pain.

Other evidence-based therapies for substance use or mental health disorders available at Bedrock include trauma-informed therapy, motivational interviewing (MI), family psychoeducation therapy, group therapy, and more.

MAT And Medication Management

If your dual diagnosis involves opioid use disorder (OUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD), your care team may discuss medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with you. Through a combination of FDA-approved medications and therapy, counseling, and other support, MAT is proven to help people with OUD and AUD avoid relapse. In some specific cases of dual diagnoses, it is also proven effective. For example, a recent study in The American Journal on Addictions showed that MAT helped people with opioid addiction and co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) maintain recovery.

Medication management services at Bedrock help ensure that any medications you’re currently taking, or any medications prescribed during your stay with us, are helping you achieve the desired outcomes, with minimal side effects. Your care team may adjust your dosage or change your medication depending on your needs.

Other Treatment Options

Additional dual diagnosis treatment options at BRC include peer support groups, recreation and prosocial activities, vocational and other life skills training, and aftercare planning.

Peer support options may include dual diagnosis-friendly 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), MAT support groups, non-12-step groups, LGBTQ+ groups, and more. Studies have shown that people with a dual diagnosis who receive CBT benefit even more when also attending 12-step groups.

Our state-of-the-art facility also offers a spacious outdoor patio space, basketball courts, a fully equipped fitness center, recreation rooms, and a movie theater for wellness activities such as group fitness classes, yoga, arts and crafts, movie nights, karaoke, and more.

Our aftercare coordinator will meet with you and your care team as you near completion of your treatment program to make sure that ongoing care is set up before you leave us. This may include assistance with scheduling therapy sessions, connecting with an outpatient program, finding a sober living home, and more.

Learn More About Dual Diagnoses

A dual diagnosis means that a person is experiencing drug or alcohol addiction along with another mental health disorder, such as depression or an anxiety disorder. In some cases, people may have more than one co-occurring disorder.

One disorder does not necessarily cause the other. However, substance abuse can lead to changes in the brain that make a person more likely to experience a mental health disorder. People with mental health disorders, such depression or an anxiety disorder, may also use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate their symptoms, leading to a substance use disorder.

People with co-occurring disorders also face an increased risk of adverse reactions, including overdose, if they mix alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescribed medications. For example, taking Xanax and drinking alcohol can cause life-threatening consequences.

Dual Diagnosis: A Common Condition

Research into co-occurring disorders has only just begun but is of great importance. Recent data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows that 37.9 percent of the 20.3 million U.S. adults with substance use disorders also have mental illnesses, while 18.2 percent of the 42.1 million U.S. adults with mental illness also have substance use disorders.

Both substance use disorders and mental health disorders can range in severity, with treatment needs varying widely from one patient to the next. Patients may also be in different stages of their disorders, each requiring specific medical care.

In the past, the healthcare system has not always recognized co-occurring disorders or known how to treat them, leading people with co-occurring disorders to be historically underserved.

Co-occurring disorder treatment is especially important because dual diagnosis is linked to housing insecurity, unemployment, violence, legal issues, infectious diseases like HIV, and suicide.

Residential treatment offers an intensive way to begin the recovery process in a safe environment with improved nutrition and 24-hour support. This type of live-in program is often essential for lasting recovery from a dual diagnosis, as it allows more time for patients and their care teams to focus on solutions such as medication management, developing a healthy daily routine, practicing coping skills, forming social connections, and engaging in other healthy behaviors.

Get Started On The Path To Recovery Today

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be experiencing co-occurring disorders, call Bedrock Recovery Center today to learn more about our treatment programs.