There was a time when therapists would treat co-occurring disorders separately. Medical professionals believed substance abuse took precedence over mental health challenges. However, experience and additional research show us this isn’t always a good idea. In fact, young adults who abuse drugs or alcohol should receive treatment for mental illness and addiction simultaneously. Fortunately, if you live in-state, co-occurring disorder treatment in Idaho is close by.
What’s Behind Co-Occurring Disorders?
Overall, addiction and mental illness feed off one another. Additionally, mental health problems won’t go away without help. For example, you could have anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder that require professional help.
The co-occurring substance abuse problem may involve pills, alcohol, or illicit street drugs. When undergoing co-occurring disorder treatment in Idaho, you might be at a loss over which condition came first. Did the mental illness make you more susceptible to developing a substance abuse problem? Or was it the other way around?
Often, drug or alcohol dependency causes stronger mental illness symptoms. Just as addiction is a different experience for everyone, so are mental health challenges. However, experts agree that the need to treat both conditions currently produces the best results.
What Treatment Looks Like
When dealing with teens and young adults, it’s unwise to offer one-size-fits-all treatment. Likewise, the same approach you might use for older generations doesn’t work for young people. This is because the younger demographic requires active family involvement. Modalities may include:
- Family counseling that involves everyone
- Relapse prevention that remains in place after rehab
- Family therapy that eliminates enabling behaviors and creates healthy boundaries
- Teen drug abuse education that centers around avoidance of dangerous behaviors
- Early intervention for adolescents
- Dual diagnosis treatment
It’s important to recognize that addiction and mental health challenges are chronic conditions. Undergoing co-occurring disorder treatment in Idaho is a necessary pit stop on the road to recovery. However, for the program participant, it’s vital to continue treatment for mental illness long after rehab ends. Failure to do so may lead to future relapse.
Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment in Idaho with Zelus Recovery
If you don’t get help, chronic substance abuse will likely continue. The parent may mistake enabling behaviors for helping the teen or young adult. Irrational choices become the new normal. Although co-occurring disorder treatment in Idaho isn’t curable, it builds your self-esteem to make recovery easier to maintain.
Seeking co-occurring disorder treatment in Idaho is easy. You don’t have to continue struggling alone. Reach out for help with the friendly therapists at Zelus Recovery in Meridian, Idaho. Call 208.518.0797 to schedule an intake interview today.
