Find Lasting Recovery: Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Teens

Understanding Dual Diagnosis: Treating Co-Occurring Mental Health and Addiction in Teens Location

No parent wants to find themselves in the position of dealing with an addiction or other behavioral and emotional concerns with their child. Yet sometimes, you find yourself in that scenario.

As you look into treatment options and therapies to help your struggling teen, understanding dual diagnosis treatment is important. If you suspect drug use or alcohol abuse, chances are high that dual diagnosis is in play.

What Is Dual Diagnosis?

Addiction and mental health concerns often happen concurrently. A teen dealing with a behavioral issue or addiction may also be struggling with anxiety and depression. Dual diagnosis refers to diagnosing someone with a drug or alcohol problem along with a mental health concern.

Getting an accurate dual diagnosis is important because treating the mental health concern is often the first step in effectively treating the addiction.

Dual diagnosis treatment centers treat both conditions. They use behavioral therapies and medications to assist with mental health concerns while using support groups and detox protocols to treat the addiction.

This is the most effective way to address these issues and provides the best chance at a successful outcome.

The Link Between Substance Abuse and Mental Illness

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people with a substance use disorder are highly likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder. While the research into this connection with youth is still in development, over 60% of adolescents who are in substance abuse disorder treatment programs also qualify for mental health treatment. 

Specific mental health conditions commonly linked to substance abuse include:

• PTSD
• Panic disorder
• Anxiety disorder
• Depression
• Bipolar
• ADHD

Each of these concerns hurts a person’s executive function, though in different ways. For that reason, people with these mental health conditions will be more vulnerable to substance abuse. 

Also, people with mental health concerns may use alcohol or drugs to self-medicate their symptoms. In addition, substance abuse can damage the brain and increase the risk of developing these conditions. 

Alcohol and drug use can make symptoms of mental health concerns get worse. The link goes in both directions, but it is clearly established.

Why Dual Diagnosis is Common in Adolescents: Vulnerability and Risk Factors

One of the reasons dual diagnosis is so common in adolescents is that this is typically when drug use starts. It’s also typically when the first signs of mental illness show up. 

The transition from youth to young adulthood is filled with emotional turbulence, and this can increase the risk of these concerns for young people.

In addition, the brain is developing and building executive function skills, including impulse control. Since these are not fully developed, young people are more likely to make impulsive decisions to use drugs.

Benefits of Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Teens: Comprehensive Care for Lasting Recovery

There are several benefits of using dual diagnosis treatment for teens who are struggling with co-occurring disorders. These include:

• • More focused care that deals with the exact concerns the teen is facing, not overlooking one of the concerns in favor of treating the other.

• • A better understanding of the reason behind substance abuse, which is often a mental health disorder. This can help teens with their self-image, which can be severely damaged while managing addiction.

• • Reduced rate of relapse because the mental health concern is also being addressed, so the teen can heal and feel less of a draw towards substance abuse.

• • Improved quality of life because the teen is getting treatment for all of their areas of concern.

• • Increased success after treatment because these programs have aftercare that provides ongoing support to help reduce the risk of future problems.

Early Intervention for Dual Diagnosis – Key to Successful Treatment of Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders

Mental health and addiction concerns are not the type of problems that will go away if you ignore them and give your child room to grow and develop. Remember, half of all mental disorders start by 14 years old, and they are usually foreshadowed by behaviors that come before.

As a concerned parent, you want to give your child the best chance at success, even while managing dual diagnosis concerns. The earlier you can intervene when noticing a problem, the better the results will be for your child.

As soon as you start seeing concerns, contact a mental health treatment provider to have your child evaluated and decide if it is time to start treatment.

Warning Signs of a Teen’s Need for Dual Diagnosis Treatment

How can you tell if your teen needs early intervention? The key is to look for signs of mental health concerns and drug abuse. These warning signs include:

• • Lack of interest in activities that once brought joy

• • Physical changes, such as bloodshot eyes or increased tiredness

• • Mood swings that aren’t normal or due to reasonable causes, like puberty

• • A habit of lying or only sharing partial truths

• • Sudden changes in grades

• • Unexpected changes in friend and social groups

• • Extreme behavioral challenges

If you’re noticing these issues, or if you find drugs or alcohol in your teen’s possession, act quickly to get early intervention. These problems will grow if left untreated.