Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Florida

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Forward Motion Health is a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center Near West Palm Beach

Most of the people we serve have a history of substance use. However, rarely does substance use tell the whole story. Beneath the surface of addiction lies another issue — depression that began many years before using drugs or alcohol, anxiety caused by benzodiazepine prescriptions, unaddressed trauma that was quieted by opioid use, or bipolar disorder that has been driving substance use for years but never formally diagnosed. 

One of the primary reasons that treatments fail is because it focuses solely on the substance use and ignores the underlying concerns like personality or mood disorders. Comprehensive treatment that addresses the entire person is required for effective recovery. 

At Forward Motion Health, dual diagnosis care is provided based on individually developed treatment plans that address the entire clinical presentation of each patient who enters our facility.

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ADHD

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Individuals living with ADHD experience difficulties with attention, organization, impulse control, and executive functioning. These symptoms most commonly remain present throughout an individual’s lifetime. As adults, many individuals diagnosed with ADHD report that their symptoms interfere with their ability to perform well at work, form and maintain social or romantic relationships, manage their own emotions, and accomplish personal tasks.

Anxiety

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Anxiety Disorders are generally defined as excessive worry, fear, or anxiety about things that extend beyond normal stress. Common symptoms may include racing thoughts, restlessness, muscle tension, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, and physical sensations such as increased heart rate or shortness of breath.

Bipolar Disorder

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Bipolar Disorder causes individuals to experience extreme mood swings or alternating periods of depression and elevated mood states. These shifts can affect energy levels, decision-making, sleep patterns, motivation, and overall functioning, often creating significant challenges in daily life.

Depression

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Depression goes beyond the normal down days we all have from time to time. It’s a serious mental illness that affects many different aspects of your daily life, including your mood, your energy levels, your motivation, your ability to sleep well, your concentration, your appetite, and even your enjoyment of life. Depression may cause individuals to feel hopeless or empty for an extended period of time or lose their interest in things they used to enjoy doing.

OCD

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Individuals suffering from OCD experience obsessive thoughts that are unwanted and may be intrusive. These same individuals may also exhibit compulsive behaviors or rituals. The compulsive behaviors are done to reduce anxiety associated with the obsessive thoughts. Individuals experiencing OCD often spend large portions of their day engaging in either obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors, which can interfere with the individual’s job, social relationships, and other areas of their lives.

Personality Disorders

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A personality disorder is defined as a pervasive pattern of behavior exhibited over a long duration of time that is maladaptive and interferes with the individual’s ability to function appropriately. Some examples include problems with emotional regulation, self-image, and relationships. There are many types of personality disorders, each has its own unique set of characteristics; however, most are similar in that they tend to cause the individual difficulty when dealing with stressful situations and interactions with others.

PTSD

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms may include intrusive memories, nightmares, heightened vigilance, emotional numbness, avoidance behaviors, and strong physical or emotional reactions to reminders of the trauma.

Why Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment Matters

A dual diagnosis, also called a co-occurring disorder, is when a person is struggling with both a substance abuse disorder and one or more mental health disorders at the same time.[1] 

Research conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) suggests that over half of people with a substance use disorder will have some form of mental illness as well.[2] The relationship between the disorders creates an interdependent cycle of worsening symptoms. For example, chronic alcohol consumption can worsen depressive symptoms, benzodiazepine use can increase symptoms of anxiety, and PTSD can contribute to a dependency on opioids. Using substances to self-medicate will make managing almost every type of mental health issue much more challenging. Once these patterns develop, disentangling the various symptoms becomes extremely complex unless comprehensive treatment is provided.

Historically, treating these conditions sequentially or even in parallel (addiction treatment at one place with one doctor, mental health at another with a different doctor) has been the norm. However, research clearly indicates that this method produces poorer outcomes than integrated dual diagnosis treatment, where both conditions are treated simultaneously by a unified clinical team.[3] Integrated dual diagnosis treatment decreases relapse rates, improves mental health outcomes, and provides patients with a treatment model that truly mirrors their experiences.[4] 

As evidenced by the position statements of numerous major behavioral health organizations, including The Joint Commission and SAMHSA, integrated dual diagnosis treatment is now considered the standard of care for addressing co-occurring disorders, and the research supporting its effectiveness spans decades.[5]

What to Expect From a Dual Diagnosis Program

At Forward Motion Health, dual diagnosis treatment is incorporated into every phase of our residential program.

Below is what to expect from the process:

  1. First, our patients undergo a thorough clinical evaluation that assesses their substance use history, mental health symptoms, medical history, family environment, and objectives. 
  2. Based on this information, our multidisciplinary treatment team develops a customized treatment plan based on your needs.
  3. As part of their treatment plan, clients receive evidence-based therapy that may include MAT, CBT, DBT, EMDR, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, family therapy, medication management, and holistic approaches such as yoga and recovery fitness.
  4. As part of your overall treatment plan, we start developing an aftercare plan as soon as possible to ensure that when our patients leave our residential program, their transition to an outpatient program, sober living, or back home is smooth and supported

While no singular approach defines successful dual diagnosis treatment, what distinguishes effective programs is how well the individual parts of treatment are coordinated to meet the needs of each patient. At Forward Motion Health, our medical team works closely with our therapy team, our case managers, and other members of our staff to provide seamless communication and collaboration throughout. When medication is prescribed to address a co-occurring condition, it is viewed within the larger context of our patient’s recovery. Therapeutic interventions designed to help heal from trauma are coordinated with the treatment approach being used to address the substance use. Family sessions are scheduled when necessary.

 

Regardless of the specific methods used, our objective remains the same — to treat the entire person rather than just the most obvious symptom. Many of our patients report that participating in dual diagnosis treatment is the first time they have received simultaneous attention for both their substance use issues and mental health concerns from the same team in the same location. It is this integration that makes long-term recovery possible.

Florida Dual Diagnosis Treatment That Reflects Your Reality

The right dual diagnosis program is one that addresses both substance abuse and co-occurring conditions, builds individualized treatment plans specifically tailored to meet the unique clinical needs of each patient, and offers continued care following discharge. 

The program at Forward Motion Health meets these criteria by using evidence-based treatments, having highly trained and recovery-oriented staff, and by providing residential treatment with integrated dual diagnosis support and aftercare planning that doesn’t disappear at discharge.

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A Plan Built for All of It

Located in Palm City, Florida, our men’s inpatient dual diagnosis treatment center serves patients from across South Florida and beyond — including the Treasure Coast, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, and West Palm Beach areas.

If you’ve tried to receive substance abuse treatment in the past and left feeling like something was missing, an integrated dual diagnosis treatment program might just provide you with the support you need. Reach out today. Our admissions team is available to help answer your questions, verify your insurance, and help you determine if Forward Motion Health is the right step for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Mental Health Treatment Programs

Integrated treatment is considered the most effective method when addressing a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental health condition. Research has shown that integrated dual diagnosis treatment is more effective than addressing each issue separately or in two different locations.

When a person is experiencing a combination of a substance use disorder and one or more co-occurring mental health disorders simultaneously, this is referred to as having a dual diagnosis. Approximately 50% of people diagnosed with substance use disorders are also diagnosed with a mental illness. Treating both conditions simultaneously improves outcomes.

Most major insurance plans cover dual diagnosis treatment under the requirements of the Mental Health Parity Act, which requires insurance providers to equally reimburse patients for physical healthcare and behavioral health services. Our admissions staff will confirm your insurance coverage before you commit to anything.

Treatment length varies depending on the client’s specific needs, the level of both conditions present, and the client’s treatment plan. Typical lengths for residential dual diagnosis treatment are 30 to 90 days. Aftercare follows and extends well beyond. Our clinical team will work with each client to develop a customized plan that addresses their unique clinical needs.

[1] [2] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Co-occurring disorders and other health conditions. https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/serious-mental-illness/co-occurring-disorders

[3] [4] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders evidence-based practices (EBP) KIT. https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/ebp-kit-the-evidence-10242019.pdf 

[5] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Substance use disorder treatment for people with co-occurring disorders: Updated 2020 (Treatment Improvement Protocol Series No. 42). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK571022/

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