Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Addiction & Mental Health

Dual diagnosis means having both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time. The two conditions are interconnected — treating only one won’t lead to lasting recovery.

At BetterChoice Treatment Center, we provide integrated treatment for dual diagnosis — addressing depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions alongside addiction recovery.

Why integrated treatment works: Mental illness often drives addiction. Addiction worsens mental illness. Treat both simultaneously, and recovery is more stable and sustainable.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Definition

Dual diagnosis (also called co-occurring disorder or comorbidity) occurs when someone has:

• A substance use disorder (addiction to alcohol, opioids, stimulants, or other drugs), AND
• A mental health disorder (depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, etc.)

These conditions exist at the same time and influence each other.

How Common is Dual Diagnosis?

Statistics: About 50% of people with addiction also have a mental health disorder. About 37% of people with mental illness have a substance use problem.

If you have both, you’re not alone. And treatment works.

Common Combinations of Dual Diagnosis

Depression + Addiction

How it happens: Depression creates hopelessness and pain. People use substances to numb the sadness. Substance use makes depression worse.

Signs: Persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, low energy, substance use increasing.

Treatment at BetterChoice: Medical detox, antidepressant medication (if appropriate), daily therapy, psychiatric care.

Anxiety + Addiction

How it happens: Anxiety creates fear, panic, and tension. People use alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other drugs to calm anxiety.

Signs: Constant worry, panic attacks, avoidance behaviors, substance use for relief.

Treatment at BetterChoice: Medical management of anxiety, therapy for anxiety disorders, coping skills training.

PTSD + Addiction

How it happens: Trauma creates flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance. People use substances to suppress trauma memories.

Signs: Intrusive memories, avoidance, hyperalertness, substance use for emotional regulation.

Treatment at BetterChoice: Trauma-informed therapy, addiction treatment, psychiatric support for PTSD.

Bipolar Disorder + Addiction

How it happens: Bipolar disorder involves extreme mood swings. People use stimulants during depressive episodes or alcohol during manic episodes.

Signs: Extreme mood changes, risky behavior, substance use escalation.

Treatment at BetterChoice: Mood stabilizing medications, psychiatric monitoring, addiction treatment.

Other Common Combinations

• Social Anxiety + Alcohol Use
• Panic Disorder + Benzodiazepine Addiction
• OCD + Substance Use
• ADHD + Stimulant Addiction

Why Standard Addiction Treatment Isn’t Enough

Many rehab facilities treat addiction but don’t address the underlying mental health condition. This leads to relapse because:

• Untreated depression: Patient feels better temporarily, then crashes emotionally
• Untreated anxiety: Patient can’t manage stress without substances
• Untreated PTSD: Trauma triggers cause emotional overwhelm
• Untreated bipolar: Mood swings are unpredictable without medication

Integrated treatment addresses both conditions simultaneously, so patients have tools to manage mental health without returning to substances.

BetterChoice’s Integrated Dual Diagnosis Approach

1. Medical Detoxification (Days 1–7)

Safe, medically-supervised detox using medications to manage withdrawal and mental health symptoms.

What happens:

• 24/7 medical monitoring
• Medications to ease withdrawal pain
• Psychiatric evaluation for mental health treatment
• Initial medication management

2. Psychiatric Evaluation & Medication Management

Our psychiatrists assess your mental health condition and develop a medication plan.

What this includes:

• Full psychiatric evaluation
• Medication selection (if appropriate)
• Regular medication monitoring & adjustments
• Ongoing psychiatric care throughout treatment

Why medication matters: Mental health medications help stabilize mood, reduce anxiety, treat depression — creating a foundation for recovery work.

3. Individual Therapy

One-on-one therapy addressing both addiction and mental health.

Therapy approaches we use:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Trauma-Focused CBT
• Motivational Interviewing
• Psychodynamic Therapy

4. Group Therapy

Peer support in groups focused on both addiction and mental health.

Groups include:

• Addiction recovery groups
• Mental health skill-building groups
• Dual diagnosis specific groups
• Emotion regulation & coping skills groups

5. Holistic & Wellness Therapies

Complementary therapies that support mental health and recovery:

• Yoga & mindfulness
• Exercise & fitness
• Art & music therapy
• Nutritional counseling
• Sleep hygiene

6. Family Therapy

Including family in treatment helps:

• Family understand dual diagnosis
• Repair family relationships
• Build support system for recovery
• Address family history

7. Aftercare & Relapse Prevention

Planning for life after treatment, with focus on managing both mental health and addiction triggers.

Aftercare includes:

• Outpatient therapy continuation
• Psychiatric medication management
• Support groups
• Coping strategies for high-risk situations
• Warning signs of relapse

Treatment Timeline for Dual Diagnosis

Typical stay: 30–90 days (longer than single-issue addiction due to mental health complexity)

Week 1: Stabilization

• Medical detox & withdrawal management
• Psychiatric evaluation & medication initiation
• Adjustment to facility & treatment routine

Weeks 2–3: Foundation

• Medication adjustments
• Therapy begins (individual & group)
• Education about dual diagnosis
• Learning coping skills

Weeks 4–6: Deeper Work

• Intensive therapy addressing root causes
• Trauma processing (if applicable)
• Skill development & practice
• Family therapy sessions

Weeks 7–12: Consolidation & Planning

• Strengthening recovery skills
• Aftercare planning
• Support group integration
• Planning for life after treatment

Why Choose BetterChoice for Dual Diagnosis?

Expert Clinical Team Our psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors specialize in dual diagnosis.

Integrated Treatment Model We don’t separate addiction and mental health treatment. Both are addressed simultaneously.

Medication-Assisted Treatment When appropriate, medications are used to manage both addiction and mental health symptoms.

Personalized Treatment Plans Every patient’s combination of conditions is unique. Your treatment plan is customized.

Medical Detox Capability Safe medical detox with 24/7 monitoring, plus psychiatric support.

Luxury Environment The healing environment supports mental health recovery.

Recovery is Possible

Dual diagnosis is complex, but treatment works. People recover from both addiction and mental health conditions when they receive integrated care.

The key: Addressing both conditions at the same time, with the right treatment team, in a supportive environment.

BetterChoice specializes in dual diagnosis recovery. We’ve helped hundreds of people regain stability and build meaningful lives.