Muse Treatment Joins the Fight for Mental Health Awareness Month by Offering Treatment

Los Angeles, California -

Los Angeles, California—More than a third of the 20 million U.S. adults with a substance abuse disorder also struggle with diagnosed mental health issues, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Yet only 7.4 percent of people with this dual diagnosis get the help they need. Muse Treatment hopes to change this sad statistic.

Muse, a network of detox and rehab centers in Southern California, is focusing on dual diagnosis in May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. The hope is that by drawing more attention to dual diagnosis, more people will get the help they need.

Readers that find themselves turning to alcohol or drugs to relieve feelings of depression, it’s likely that a person could have co-occurring disorders. A dual diagnosis is often made when an individual has conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder. One can’t know if they have co-occurring disorders without undergoing a professional evaluation.

Also known as co-occurring disorders, conditions in dual diagnosis are often closely intertwined, so it is impossible to separate them; without therapy, it’s difficult to tell which disease may be the primary issue. For example, an addict may have turned to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate depression, anxiety or a similar condition. Conversely, the inability to conquer addiction may lead to depression or anxiety.

Without treatment to resolve both conditions, the risk of relapse can be heightened. For instance, if someone achieves sobriety but has not dealt with an underlying emotional or psychological problem, the emotional issues are likely to return. And if the recovering addict has not learned how to deal with those emotions, they are at risk of resuming substance abuse to cope.

SAMHSA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, believes both conditions must be treated with an integrated approach in order to achieve success. SAMHSA calls this a “no wrong door” policy; someone with both seeking treatment should be admitted for screening in either area.

This is the approach Muse takes in treating clients with dual diagnoses. It’s driven by a belief in treating the whole person, just the addiction or psychological condition. Muse uses a combination of individual and group therapy, medication management, family therapy, and post-treatment follow-up that is targeted at the whole person, not just their addiction.

While individual plans are customized to the individual’s needs but are delivered in three critical stages:

Detox is the cleansing period that rids the body of toxins built up during an extended period of substance use. It includes 24-hour supervision and medications to relieve discomfort and anxiety. When that is complete, rehab treatment begins.

Inpatient Treatment, with time and a safe space to focus solely on recovery, residential treatment is often the most successful means of treating co-occurring disorders. Inpatient clients live on Resurgence’s serene campus, which offers around-the-clock care, delicious meals, and comfortable amenities.

Outpatient Treatment is an effective option for clients who cannot take time away from work, school, or family obligations but need treatment a few times a week.

Dual diagnosis treatment takes time and a lot of work, but it’s worth the effort. If you’ve been diagnosed with concurring disorders, treating only your addiction will be fruitless in the long run.

Anyone seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction and accompanying emotional or psychological disorders can begin by visiting Muse Treatment, which offers a comprehensive treatment of alcohol dependence or other substance use disorders. For help or more information, call 866-634-6111.