Dual Diagnosis IOP: Treating Mental Health and Substance Use Together
You finally decide to get some assistance. Maybe you quit drinking and/or drugs. The world appears to be a better place for a time.
Then anxiety returns. Depression gets heavier. Old trauma resurfaces.
Soon, the use of substances again can seem the most convenient method of coping.
Sometimes treatment is just half the battle. It is important to recognize that substance use and mental health problems are often related.
Not treating both can leave an important trigger untreated.
This is where a Dual Diagnosis Intensive Outpatient Program can help.
A co-occurring disorder IOP is dedicated to addressing both disorders simultaneously. It offers a structured care program, without the need to live away from home.
The Problem That Keeps Recurring
Picture a person going through treatment for alcoholism. They develop strategies to control their cravings and avoid being triggered.
But even without treatment, the anxiety doesn’t subside, and it makes it hard to sleep and worry all the time.
Over time, drinking alcohol can become another way of avoiding problems.
Things can go the other way as well.
A person can be in therapy for depression and still be using drugs or alcohol.
This can result in a vicious circle. You are more comfortable in one aspect. The untreated problem sucks you back.
According to SAMHSA’s 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 20.4 million U.S. adults actually had both a mental illness and a substance use disorder in 2023.
So, what is a Dual Diagnosis IOP?
A Dual Diagnosis IOP is an outpatient treatment program that is structured.
It facilitates those with mental health or substance use issues to maintain mental health and substance use management together.
Treatment sessions are held multiple times a week. You go back to your house after that.
This program might consist of:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Relapse prevention
- Coping skills training
- Medication administration as necessary
The key factor is the coordination. Your providers have all the facts.
Instead, treatment for mental health and addiction takes place in one integrated way.
Why More Frequent Support Can Help
For many, weekly therapy can be beneficial. But there are situations that call for greater structure.
Between appointments, it’s possible you may have cravings.
It may be worse if you’ve had a stressful day. Often depression will make it hard to stick to a recovery program.
More regular contact and support is provided through a co-occurring disorder IOP.
The additional structure will enable you to rehearse skills before they become too challenging.
You Recover in Real Life
These outpatient care options enable you to employ recovery strategies in the real world outside of therapy.
Imagine if you had a tough day at work and were stuck in Boston traffic. It might be necessary to cope with stress without resorting to substances.
Perhaps you work by the Prudential Center or commute down Route 128 every day.
Nothing stops in the real world when you’re recovering. An IOP can assist you in developing skills throughout those circumstances.
What Treatment Can Look Like
The situation for each individual varies.
Some people have difficulty with depression and/or alcohol use. Some have an anxiety disorder and rely on prescription drug abuse as their coping mechanism.
Substance use may also result in trauma and PTSD.
Effective screening considers all symptoms.
It takes into account your recovery objectives, mental health, and substance use.
Treatment can address questions such as:
- When and why are you tempted to use a substance?
- What are some challenges to recovery?
- What has helped you manage stress in the past?
- What is the area you would like to be supported in?
This way, you can make connections. You start to begin to see how some patterns are recurring.
Massachusetts Continues To Experience A Treatment Gap
It can still be hard for many to get behavioral health care. Massachusetts has made investments in its Behavioral Health Roadmap to enhance access.
According to the state, just 50% of residents who have mental illness in Massachusetts are treated. Others still have to cope on their own.
If a person is in intensive care, he or she might not respond to the occasional appointment.
Signs You May Need More Outpatient Support
When considering a Dual Diagnosis IOP, it’s important to consider the following:
- Symptoms of mental health problems occur over and over and lead to substance use.
- People who use drugs tend to have more severe emotional symptoms.
- Weekly therapy is not sufficient.
- You have just finished inpatient treatment.
- Structure is needed when dealing with work or family.
- The patient relapsed after just one treatment.
An assessment will be useful to see if IOP is right for you.
How Forrest Behavioral Health Can Help
Treatment at Forrest Behavioral Health acknowledges the relationship between mental health and substance abuse.
Individual support is provided for people with co-occurring conditions in the programs.
Outpatient programs can also facilitate individuals in maintaining essential activities as they go about their daily lives.
This does not mean that the recovery process does not always involve leaving behind your life as a whole.
Treatment can be integrated and become part of rebuilding it.
Addressing the Whole Picture Can Change the Cycle
Sometimes recovery stops when a significant problem is left untreated.
A Dual Diagnosis IOP treats both aspects simultaneously.
It will help you to learn about the relationship between emotions, behaviour, and substance use.
When you’re already trying to cure one disease, and another one is pulling at you from the rear, there’s hope.
If you believe that dual diagnosis outpatient treatment may be a better route for you to take, you can visit Forrest Behavioral Health to find out more.
When all the pieces of the puzzle are finally acknowledged, recovery can get easier.
