Dual Diagnosis
Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Colorado
Data taken from Mental Health America indicates that as of 2022, at least 19.86% of the total American adult population suffers from one form of mental illness or another. This translates roughly into 50 million Americans. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a report that indicates that of this number, at least 50 percent are also affected by substance abuse.
This is why online searches for facilities like dual diagnosis treatment centers in Colorado, are so popular today. This number is also believed to be growing as the number of people who turn to alcohol or drugs instead of proper treatment also increases. Chronic relapse is often closely associated with co-occurring conditions. At Jaywalker Lodge, we specialize in treating chronic relapse by treating the whole person, while being mindful of the unique traits of the individual.
What is Dual Diagnosis?
This is a condition where a person has both a mental health issue and a substance abuse disorder. This condition is becoming more of a problem today as it appears to be occurring together more frequently. Having a mental health issue or substance abuse disorder is already immensely difficult to deal with, let alone having both together. To make it all worse, both conditions feed each other, and treating only one before the other could only make the other worse, or not make the treatment stick at all.
The most common way of treating a disorder is usually trying to determine the origin of the condition, but in the case of a dual diagnosis, this could prove to be extremely difficult since the prevailing and most prominent symptoms of one condition could be masking the other. Many experts believe that in dual diagnosis, having one condition does not necessarily mean that it is responsible for the development of the other, although it is not uncommon that this is usually the case.
Mental Health Issues and Co-Occurring Disorders
Mental health experts do believe that while mental health conditions might not directly lead to substance abuse, they could be a major contributing factor. Data taken from treatment centers indicate that substance abuse tends to be twice as prevalent among adults who already have particular forms of mental health issues due to a desire to self-medicate.
This is because some see self-medication as a way to keep their condition as discreet as possible. In many cases, these people are not even aware that their decision to self-medicate already constitutes as a disorder.
How Does One Condition Affect the Other?
Many abused substances will inevitably cause damage to the brain due to chronic use, which manifests in forms that qualify as symptoms of a mental illness. This is most common in substances that have pronounced mind-altering effects like hallucinogens. People who have a heavy dependence on hallucinogens have been observed as showing signs of schizophrenia.
People who have an addiction to stimulants such as methamphetamines or other similar substances have been observed as showing all the hallmarks of a person suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Those who have an opioid addiction display severely impaired cognitive function that they are mistaken for being learning-impaired.
People who have mental health issues, on the other hand, may inadvertently make their condition worse by taking alcohol or drugs on their own without prior consultation with a physician. Not only is this immensely bad for their health, as substance abuse is one of the major causes of organ failure, but many substances also lead to states that mimic the symptoms of certain forms of mental illness. Alcohol and some substances often leave many in a depressed state, with some cases being so severe that typically result in either unintentional self-harm or even suicide.
What Conditions are High Risk When it Comes to Dual Diagnosis?
There are a number of conditions that mental health experts are pointing out as having a higher probability of occurring with substance abuse. Jaywalker Lodge, we also provide services for individuals with co-occurring disorders. Common co-occurring disorders we treat include:
How Important is Treatment for Dual Diagnosis?
Seeking treatment is immensely important in the case of dual diagnosis for a number of reasons, including:
Treatments for different mental health issues could vary depending on what the therapist might assess as being best for the condition. In the case of someone with a dual diagnosis case, assessment and evaluation might not be as clear cut or as immediately conclusive as diagnosing someone with either a mental health issue only or a substance abuse only. Many of the symptoms tend to overlap with other conditions, and there is the matter of which symptoms could be attributed to the alcohol use or substances also being taken.
In the case of dual diagnosis, both mental health issues and substance dependence need to be addressed and treated simultaneously, as prioritizing one over the other could only result in the untreated condition getting worse, or in the treatment not working at all. In most cases of dual diagnosis, one condition feeds off the other, such as depressed people tend to use alcohol or other substances, and when deprived of it, they sink even deeper into a depression.
Alternatively, those who are addicted to hallucinogens could suddenly go into violent fits when deprived of what they are taking. The irony is that while the person might think that using substances would alleviate what they are going through, it really does not. Statistically speaking, the potential for suicide in people with depression and people who have depression and a drinking issue is the same, if not worse.
Due to the fact that mental health issues and substance abuse feed off each other in dual-diagnosis cases, there is little to no chance of the person actually being able to address the problem to mitigate the damage that the two conditions are doing. The person will continue to think that the only respite from whatever they experience from the mental health issue comes from alcohol or drugs, and will continue to use them, sometimes in increasing amounts.
The chronic use of alcohol or drugs will take its toll on the body of the person, and with the progressive physical damage, the person’s mental health will continue to deteriorate as well. It is important to reach an assessment that the person has a dual diagnosis as soon as possible because the traditional medical detox will only seek to stop the person from continuing the use of alcohol and drugs without addressing the impact on their already damaged mental state.
WARNING SIGNS OF ALCOHOL ADDICTION
Alcohol addiction often goes undetected until it is too late – which is why it’s important to recognize the signs before they become severe.
Some warning signs of alcohol addiction include:
- Tolerance: needing more and more to feel the desired effects
- Withdrawal symptoms when not drinking, such as shaking or sweating
- Loss of interest in hobbies or activities that used to be enjoyable
- Feeling guilty over how much you drink
- Becoming defensive over how much you drink
- Making excuses for why you need to drink
- Putting oneself in dangerous situations while drinking
- Continuing to drink despite personal or financial problems caused by alcohol use
If you have observed any of these conditions, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible. At Jaywalker Lodge, we understand how difficult it can be for men struggling with alcoholism and we are here to provide compassionate care at every stage of treatment and recovery.
Find the Best Dual Diagnosis Treatment with Jaywalker Lodge
Here at Jaywalker Lodge, we specialize in providing appropriate and specialized care for people facing issues that could prove to be a bit more complex in terms of treatment, such as dual diagnosis. We follow an evidence-based series of programs that are designed to assess the problem from all possible angles, to get a better insight into what needs the most immediate attention, and how best to proceed from there.
It is important to note, however, that patients seeking treatment at Jaywalker Lodge must arrive clean and sober already, as we do not provide medical detox services.
The location plays a vital role in how people get well in Jaywalker Lodge, as getting out in the mountains provides a life perspective from a different angle, and contributes in so many ways to efforts in personal growth and sobriety.
Our treatment program is particularly unique because it takes a different path from the usual modes of treatment, and we have evidence to prove that this has worked far better than most others. Pay us a visit to see for yourself.
As Chief Executive Officer Bill provides leadership and manage all day-to-day operations of Jaywalker Lodge, an extended care residential addiction treatment program for adult men.
