Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Los Angeles: What to Expect

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not replace expert medical or mental health advice. Dual diagnosis treatment requires a clinical assessment by a licensed clinician. So, always reach out to a board-certified physician or mental health specialist for dual diagnosis and treatment. For more urgent/emergency needs, call 9-1-1 in the U.S., or your local emergency number.

When substance use and mental health concerns co-occur, it is known as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis can be more complex and takes longer than treating one condition alone, but it also lays a well-rounded path to lasting recovery. Hence, finding the right care in Los Angeles for dual diagnosis concerns is the first step toward recovery. In this article, we will explore dual diagnosis treatment in Los Angeles and what you can expect from it.

What Is Dual Diagnosis?

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) defines dual diagnosis as the co-occurrence of substance use and a mental health condition. In the U.S., 48.4 million struggle with a substance use disorder, while 8 million also struggle with a mental health condition. An estimated 36.5% of the time, these two can overlap.

For instance, major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, anxiety disorders and stimulant use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and opioid use disorder, or schizophrenia and alcohol and tobacco use disorders are some commonly occurring dual diagnosis concerns.

These co-occurring conditions can interact and exacerbate each other. This is why they require integrated treatment that treats both substance use and mental health disorders together – known as dual diagnosis treatment.

What Are the Common Reasons for Dual Diagnosis?

While we cannot pinpoint one specific or definitive reason for dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders, here are some reasons that experts have suggested:

– Both substance use and mental health disorders have similar risk factors, like genetics, environmental factors like adverse childhood experiences, trauma, poor socioeconomic conditions, etc.

– Mental health conditions lead to substance use as a way to self-medicate to numb the pain and suffering within. 

– Substance use can lead to or exacerbate pre-existing mental health conditions, as they target brain chemistry and functioning.

What Are Some of the Common Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions With Substance Use Disorders?

Some of the mental health conditions that occur at high prevalence with substance use disorders are:

• Anxiety disorders (especially generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder)
• Major depressive disorder
• Bipolar disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Borderline personality disorder
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia.

What Is the Importance of Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Los Angeles?

An estimated 1,482,000 residents struggle with substance use disorders in Los Angeles, while 1 in 7 report struggling with a mental health condition in California.

While dual diagnosis cases can be more common than many often think, it is also a fact that if one condition is left untreated, it leaves your recovery incomplete.

Whereas treating both conditions together with integrated treatment can take longer, but it lays a strong, well-rounded foundation for your lasting recovery.

Many in Los Angeles come to sobriety while seeking care for mental health conditions and then choose it as a way of life. While others come to treat substance use conditions and learn the tools and skills to manage mental health challenges as well.

How Are Dual Diagnosis Concerns Treated in Los Angeles?

In Los Angeles, trusted and accredited treatment centers like Skyline Recovery Center offer structured outpatient care options – such as partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) – for treating dual diagnosis concerns.

Dual diagnosis is typically treated with:

– Psychotherapeutic modalities like cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral therapies

– Medication management for one or both conditions (if required)

– Peer community involving group therapy and meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Dual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA)

– Aftercare – involving ongoing therapy, ongoing medication management, relapse prevention, lifestyle modifications, and others.

While many often mistake residential or inpatient treatment as the best treatment options for dual diagnosis concerns. This is not always the case. 

Outpatient options can offer both structure and flexibility, provided they are the right level of care for you. Specifically, reaching out early before a crisis or breakdown can allow you to recover while maintaining your daily life and responsibilities.

What to Expect During the First Weeks?

Typically, in the first weeks of dual diagnosis PHP or IOP:

• You will have sessions per week, followed by which you can return home.
• Structured yet flexible schedule that is designed to honor your story, routine, and goals. 
• You will receive psychoeducation, therapy, and life skills training sessions that lay the strong foundation for your recovery.
• During this time, you will also receive extended case management services for practical challenges such as housing challenges, employment concerns, legal obligations, or family transitions so that recovery can move forward without disruptions to your daily life.

Begin Your Recovery With Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Los Angeles

Beginning your recovery from dual diagnosis concerns is a courageous, life-changing decision. It begins with the will to get better. However, you do not have to do this on your own.

Whenever you are ready, you can reach out to licensed and trained clinicians at Skyline Recovery Center who will sit with you in safe, confidential settings to listen to your story, challenges, and goals to recommend the right level of care for you so that you can move forward in your healing journey with clarity and confidence.