Not All Alcohol & Substance Abuse Programs Are Designed The Same Way
Many of them address addiction alone, and attempt to provide solutions and strategies to help an individual break a physical dependency and resist returning to the drug or alcohol of choice. These programs may be successful for some people yet they typically fall short for individuals diagnosed with both chemical dependency and mental health issues. For these individuals, mental health issues can make relapse after treatment far more likely given way for a integrated treatment approach.
One emerging form of treatment provides a comprehensive approach to individuals with a dual diagnosis. It’s known as an Integrated Treatment, and the demand for it appears to be rising. According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse. Also, an Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) survey reports that 61 percent of individuals with bipolar disorder also had a substance abuse disorder. In these instances, mental illness and addiction may have developed independently or the addiction stemmed from an existing mental health issue.