DUAL DIAGNOSIS ADDICTION TREATMENT IN KENTUCKY ​

What Dual Diagnoses Does Impact Outpatient Program Treat? ​

When we are talking about someone who has a dual diagnosis, this means that the individual has two medical diagnoses. This could be an addiction, a medical condition, an addiction, a mental health condition, or two medical conditions. At IOP, we usually refer to someone with mental health concerns and addiction.

Suppose we start by looking at Alcohol Use Disorder. We will see that bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, and antisocial personality disorder are common mental health diagnoses associated with this addiction. Alcohol misuse can also lead to depressive and anxiety disorders because alcohol is a depressant. With these two, symptoms may begin to improve once you stop drinking.

Opioid use disorder will include individuals who are abusing prescription pain medications and heroin. Opioid users are at risk of developing a depressive disorder with longer use of opioids.

Individuals who abuse benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Valium, would likely be diagnosed with sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder. All antianxiety medications that are abused would fall into this category. We commonly see that these folks struggle with other drug addictions, such as alcohol. Antisocial personality, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and bipolar disorders are also common dual diagnoses.

Individuals who abuse amphetamines, such as Vyvanse and Adderall, would likely be diagnosed with stimulant use disorder. Stimulant misuse and abuse can cause feelings of euphoria and increased confidence. These individuals may also struggle with a sedative use disorder in an attempt to balance out the effects, such as insomnia. Individuals with stimulant use disorder may also meet the criteria for PTSD, ADHD, antisocial personality disorder, and gambling addiction.

Individuals who are struggling with marijuana addiction are commonly struggling with other substance addictions such as cocaine, alcohol, and opioids. Individuals who struggle with a marijuana addiction often struggle with various anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and conduct disorders. We also see that these individuals have a higher rate of suicide attempts when compared to their peers who do not have a marijuana addiction.

Adults and adolescents who abuse hallucinogens such as ecstasy, PCP, and MDMA are more likely to use other drugs and struggle with other drug addictions. Individuals struggling with an addiction to hallucinogens may also struggle with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, and antisocial personality disorder.

Inhalant use disorder can occur when an individual becomes addicted to using hydrocarbon-based inhalant substances to get high. Research has shown that 0.4% of adolescents between 12 to 17 years old have struggled with this in the past year. Adolescents who struggle with inhalant use disorder have higher rates of conduct disorder, and adults show higher rates of antisocial personality disorder. These individuals are also likely to struggle with an addiction to other substances, suicidal ideation, and show higher rates of suicide attempts.

Dual Diagnosis And Addiction Treatment ​

If you found the information above to be overwhelming, it’s okay! When you meet with a mental health provider, they will tease apart your symptoms and find the correct diagnosis for you. From there, they will explain it to you in a way that makes sense. You may find that learning about your mental illness explains things that have puzzled or concerned you from your past.

The reason that we talk about dual diagnoses is to bring attention to them. A criticism of addiction treatment in the past was that most programs were not able to provide treatment for dual diagnoses that were mental health concerns. As a result, people were leaving their treatment program thinking that they were ready for recovery, only to find that they continued to struggle with their mental health.

Substances can often be used to cope with or mask mental health symptoms someone is experiencing. If the individual does not receive treatment for their mental health concerns, or at the minimum learn alternative coping skills, these symptoms will likely turn into triggers and potentially lead to a relapse.

Receiving treatment for all conditions is necessary to give yourself the best chance at having a successful recovery.

Explore Our Modern Drug Rehab in Louisville

Completely Heal with Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Kentucky ​

IOP is a dual diagnosis treatment center based in Kentucky, supporting individuals living in and around the Louisville area. We provide outpatient addiction services from our Mt. Washington location, making care accessible for those who need support while maintaining responsibilities at home or work. Our program is especially beneficial for individuals with a mild substance use disorder or those transitioning out of an inpatient treatment setting.

The program typically includes 15–25 hours of intensive group therapy each week, along with one hour of individual therapy. We use evidence-based practices and customize treatment plans to reflect each person’s unique needs. Our environment is fully inclusive and LGBTQ+ friendly, and we’re committed to meeting you exactly where you are in your recovery journey.

After completing this level of care, clients often transition into our outpatient treatment program, which continues to provide structure and support in early recovery. Group therapy is a central part of our approach because of the connection, insight, and encouragement that comes from sharing experiences with others who understand what you’re going through.

Our experienced team is trained to support clients with co-occurring mental health concerns, and we take a holistic approach to care, recognizing that healing involves the mind, body, and spirit. If outpatient treatment alone isn’t meeting your mental health needs, we’ll work with you to explore additional options that may be a better fit.

If you’re concerned about yourself or someone you care about, we invite you to call our Kentucky-based dual diagnosis treatment center at (502) 912-1038. We’re proud to serve the Louisville community and are here to support you every step of the way.