When choosing a dual diagnosis treatment center, look for licensing and accreditation, a qualified multidisciplinary staff, evidence-based treatment approaches, individualized treatment plans, a continuum of care, family involvement, a comfortable, therapeutic setting, insurance and payment plans.

Key Takeaways

Dual diagnosis offers effective care for individuals dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues, but finding the right clinic is essential.
The best dual diagnosis treatment centers offer evidence-based practices, a soothing environment, a full continuum of care, a multidisciplinary team, licensing and accreditation, individualized treatment plans, and affordability through insurance and payment plans.
Consider creating a list of questions to ask in advance to ensure you’re choosing the best facility for your needs.

Why Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment Important?
What Qualities Should I Look for in a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center?
What Questions Should I Ask When Evaluating a Facility?
BlueCrest Health Group Offers Optimal Dual Diagnosis Care
FAQs

Introduction

Dual diagnosis is an effective approach for addiction treatment, simultaneously treating substance abuse and underlying mental health disorders. According to Cleveland Clinic research, about 50% of people with co-occurring disorders respond well to integrated care. But finding the right clinic matters.

When choosing a clinic, individuals should look for licensing, accreditation, a personalized, integrated treatment approach, evidence-based care, a multidisciplinary staff, family involvement, and a setting conducive to healing. This article will help you determine whether the facilities you are considering are suited to your needs.

Why Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment Important?

2020 NSDUH statistics show 17 million adults, aged 18+, had a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness within the last year. People often use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and depression. While substances temporarily reduce symptoms, they often lead people on a downward spiral, with worsening symptoms and two conditions to deal with.

Dual diagnosis treatment programs simultaneously treat mental illness and substance use disorders. It recognizes that the conditions are interwoven, and treating one without addressing the other can worsen both in the long run. The treatment also recognizes that symptoms of both disorders can be similar and ensures both are diagnosed early in treatment.

The approach has been successful in reducing relapse rates, as well as related homelessness, legal issues, and hospitalizations, all of which are common among people with co-occurring disorders.

What Qualities Should I Look for in a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center?

Given the relationship between dual-diagnosis treatment and successful outcomes, individuals should look for a center that offers accreditation and licensure, a qualified, multidisciplinary staff, evidence-based treatment, individualized planning, a continuum of care, family involvement, and a comfortable, therapeutic environment. The following sections will outline these characteristics in more detail.

What Type of Accreditation and Licensing Should I Look For?

State licensing is a must for any clinic offering dual-diagnosis treatment, while accreditation from organizations such as the Joint Commission and CARF demonstrates that the clinic provides high standards of care.

In New Jersey, where BlueCrest operates, treatment for both substance use and mental health issues falls under the Division of Certificate of Need & Licensing, Office of Licensing MH/SUD (OOL), within New Jersey’s Department of Health, under Title 10 of the New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.). Dual diagnosis care can be delivered without requiring a fully separate mental health facility license, within defined limits.

Typical accreditations for dual diagnosis clinics include:

Joint Commission: Regularly reviews facilities that provide medical care to ensure they meet high standards for individualized treatment, environmental safety, system consistency, and clinical documentation.
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF): Looks for similar standards but is more specific to rehab facilities.

Why Is a Qualified, Multi-Disciplinary Staff Important?

Dual diagnosis requires assessing and treating both physical and mental health. An integrated staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, counselors, and case managers ensures all aspects of treatment are considered. Staff members may include:

Medical Directors and Psychiatrists: These professionals can oversee medication-assisted treatment when necessary.
Licensed Clinical Psychologists: For expertise in the mental health spectrum.
Licensed Social Workers and Counselors: These professionals don’t hold the same credentials as psychologists, but can provide talk therapy.
Registered Nurses: Provide medical oversight when needed.
Case Manager: Oversees logistics, insurance, housing, employment support, and aftercare referrals.
Nutritionalist/Dietician: Ensures clients benefit from a healthy diet, which is essential in recovery.

What are Typical Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches for Dual Diagnosis Care?

Dual diagnosis treatment centers should offer evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and motivational interviewing, across individual and group therapy approaches.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifies negative thought patterns and teaches coping skills to help people manage their emotions in a healthy way.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Takes a more mindful approach to emotional regulation, with a focus on distress tolerance.
Motivational Interviewing (MI): Targets treatment-related ambiguity, motivating clients to want to improve.
Trauma-Informed Care: Trauma is often at the heart of dependency issues. It is typically addressed through exposure therapies, like EMDR, which encourage clients to review traumatic memories in a safe space so they become less triggering.
Group Therapy: Helps individuals learn from others and reduces feelings of isolation.
Holistic Approaches: While not always considered an evidence-based treatment option, various studies reveal that mindfulness therapies support emotional regulation and can be effective in mental health and substance abuse treatment.

What Does Personalized Treatment Mean?

According to NIDA’s Principles of Effective Treatment, care should be tailored to the individual’s drug use patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychological, and social problems. A National Library of Medicine study reveals it can lead to 68% remission rates and an 88% mean reduction in intoxication. Here’s what that might look like in a clinical setting.

Comprehensive Intake Assessments: Personalized care should start with intake. Clinics should fully assess an individual’s medical, psychological, and environmental state to ensure care is suited to their needs.
Regular Reviews: The client should be reassessed regularly to ensure care is updated based on progress and evolving needs.
Individual Therapy: While group therapy is a necessary part of care, individual one-on-one meetings can focus more on the client and ensure adjustments are made when necessary.

What’s Involved in a Continuum of Care?

A continuum of care means clients can step up or down in care intensity as their needs evolve. For example, BlueCrest offers various levels of outpatient treatment, including partial care, intensive outpatient program, and traditional outpatient services, ensuring we meet clients where they are on the care spectrum. We also offer aftercare to ensure clients maintain optimal wellness and sobriety after the initial stages of treatment are complete.

Partial Care: This program involves attending therapy sessions for several hours a day, several days a week, as part of a full-time care approach. It is suited to clients who require structured care but are stable enough to adhere to treatment while living at home.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): This can be a primary form of care or a step down from partial care for those who require structure but are stable enough to improve without daily oversight. Therapy is less intense, often involving three-hour sessions three to five days a week.
Traditional Outpatient Treatment: Typically part of ongoing treatment after higher levels of care are completed, this involves seeing a therapist once or twice a week. Visits are usually 30-45 minutes.
Aftercare: We continue to support clients with resources, check-ins, and alumni programs.

Why Is Family Involvement Essential?

Family involvement has been shown to support higher success rates in recovery. For example, a Recovery Research Institute report reveals improved outcomes when a significant other is included in treatment. A PubMed study shows young adults achieved a 95% completion rate when family therapy is part of the recovery plan.

Families are often brought into therapy sessions to learn more about their loved ones’ conditions. This knowledge ensures they provide a supportive environment in the home and that they understand the warning signs of relapse and know how to address mental health symptoms.

Why Should a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Facility Offer a Comfortable, Therapeutic Environment?

According to research on ScienceDirect, evidence-based design can support better recovery rates. While design can vary greatly depending on the type of facility (luxury vs traditional) and inherent architectural elements, a warm, soothing atmosphere is conducive to healing. BlueCrest strives to support this aspect of wellness with a non-clinical, non-triggering environment.

What Should I Consider Regarding Insurance and Costs?

Dual diagnosis treatment can be expensive, and it’s essential to find out what the clinic offers in terms of insurance coverage and payment plans. Some clinics, like BlueCrest, offer a complete insurance verification before you begin treatment, so you’ll know exactly what you pay before you commit. Ask your treatment center and insurance provider questions about coverage in advance to ensure you get the full picture before committing to anything.

If you don’t have insurance, various centers offer treatment plans. Sliding-scale community clinics are also available.

What Questions Should I Ask When Evaluating a Facility?

When evaluating facilities, ask questions about services offered, insurance, costs, environment, staff, licensing, and accreditation before you agree to treatment. Here are some recommended questions:

Is your facility licensed and accredited? Can I see documentation?
What license types make up the clinical team, and what is the staff-to-client ratio?
How is my treatment plan developed, and how often is it reassessed and adjusted?
What evidence-based treatments are offered?
What levels of care does the facility offer?
Is family therapy included as part of the standard plan?
What does discharge planning look like?
Does the facility accept my insurance, and can they verify coverage before I commit?
Can the facility connect me with alumni who can share their experiences?

BlueCrest Health Group Offers Optimal Dual Diagnosis Care

Finding the best dual diagnosis treatment center is complicated, but you can limit stress by starting with BlueCrest Health Group of New Jersey. Our clinic offers personalized, evidence-based treatments, comprehensive levels of care, a soothing, non-clinical environment, and a fully integrated clinical staff. We review insurance in advance, work with most major providers, and provide payment plans to keep care affordable.

FAQs

What is dual diagnosis and how is it different from having just one disorder?

Dual diagnosis refers to individuals who have substance abuse and mental health disorders simultaneously. It addresses both conditions as part of treatment to ensure positive outcomes. With this approach, neither condition is treated as an afterthought.

What does integrated treatment involve?

Integrated treatment involves attention to all aspects of mental and physical health, ensuring care is suited to individual needs. It involves a multi-disciplinary team of mental health and medical professionals and guides a personalized approach.

How do I know if a facility is properly licensed and accredited?

Typically, a facility will have licensing and accreditation wording and badges on its website. If you don’t see these assets online, ask to see documentation or look them up online. Facilities that can’t produce proof of licensing are a huge red flag.

Does insurance cover dual diagnosis treatment?

Yes, insurance is available for dual diagnosis treatment. However, plans and coverage vary. It’s advisable to talk to treatment centers and providers before starting care to learn what you’ll pay for.

What happens after treatment ends- is there ongoing support?

The best treatment facilities should offer ongoing support with aftercare planning. They should begin planning during your treatment to ensure a smooth transition and continue to provide resources, check-ins, and alumni services to guide optimal wellness.

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Best Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers: What to Look For