Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders

The combination of alcohol or drug problems and psychiatric disorders varies in a multitude of ways, such as; severity, chronicity, disability, and degree of impairment in even basic day to day functioning.

People with co-occurring disorders often experience more severe and chronic medical, social, and emotional problems because of the difficulties of having at least two disorders.

Compared with individuals who have a single disorder, individuals with dual disorders often need longer treatment, have more crises, progress more slowly in treatment and have a history of multiple treatment attempts.

The treatment goal is always abstinence from drugs and alcohol, however, in many cases the dually diagnosed person is not "ready" or able to realistically commit to the goal of abstinence when first admitted to treatment.

In these cases empirical evidence indicates that people with co-occurring disorders have better outcomes when early treatment goals are harm reduction while using motivational interviewing to move toward abstinence as the goal.

It is also essential, especially early in treatment, to identify behaviors leading up to relapse in order to change the negative outcome.

Effective Treatment includes…

• A combination of elements from both mental health and substance abuse treatment creating a unified and comprehensive continuum of care for people with co-occurring disorders
  
• Treating both disorders as primary.
  
• Clinicians & case managers specially trained in dual disorders.
  
• Providing integrated care so individuals do not shoulder the burden of integrating care for both disorders