Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers in Georgia (Metro Atlanta)

A dual-diagnosis disorder describes when a person struggles with two or more conditions simultaneously. They are often referred to as co-occurring or comorbid. Commonly, a person struggling with substance abuse will also struggle with mental illness. One or the other may occur first, but the two often worsen each other unless treated.

Some common co-occurring disorders with addiction are:

• Cocaine and Depression
• Alcohol and Panic Disorder
• Drug Obsession and Schizophrenia
• Benzodiazepines and Anxiety
• Stimulants and Eating Disorders
• Amphetamine Pills and ADHD

Mental health issues often occur alongside substance use disorders. A lack of treatment and care for these comorbid issues can result in adverse long-term outcomes, including relapse and overdose. A National Institute on Drug Abuse report found that almost 8 million adults suffer from co-occurring mental illness and substance use. More than half of these people never receive any treatment. Only 9% will seek treatment through a dual-diagnosis center.

• Almost 50% of Americans suffer from dual-diagnosis conditions
• 23% of young adults struggle with dual diagnosis substance abuse and mental illness

Substance use often occurs alongside anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Drug and alcohol addiction are also seen at higher levels in those suffering from the following conditions:

• Depression
• ADHD
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Antisocial Personality Disorder

Drugs and alcohol affect the same areas in the brain as many mental health conditions. The two can often interact and worsen the negative symptoms of one another.

There is no specific reason someone may experience addiction alongside mental disorders and vice versa. There are, however, some factors that may increase the risk of these co-occurring. If there is a family history of both, this can likely explain someone’s tendency to develop both. Genetics may play a role. There is much to be said about environmental factors contributing to co-occurring disorders’ development.

If a child grows up around drugs or alcohol, they may have a higher risk of trying these substances at a younger age. This can increase the chances of developing an addiction. Childhood trauma or stress can also increase the risk, primarily if genetic predispositions exist.

Again, people with mental illnesses are at a higher risk for self-medication which can lead to an addiction. Conversely, individuals who use drugs can alter the way their brain works. This can trigger the development of mental illnesses such as anxiety or psychosis. Regardless of which comes first, it is critical to treat both simultaneously, as they can exacerbate one another.

Dual diagnosis is a significant issue in Georgia, including metro Atlanta. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities explains that nearly 50% of individuals with a mental health disorder also have a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD).

Treatment facilities such as The Summit Wellness Group, located in metro Atlanta, Georgia, offer various treatment options. Our Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center focuses on each individual. This is done through a comprehensive assessment and medical examination. From there, the treatment team can address the mental health disorder and the SUD.

Metro Atlanta and many rural Georgia areas face a public health concern related to dual diagnosis and the drugs people are abusing. Alcohol, opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana are among the leading substances abused in the state.

Regarding mental health disorders for Georgia residents with a dual diagnosis, there are some common disorders. Those include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia.

Homelessness and incarceration can go hand-in-hand for some individuals with dual diagnoses. Metro Atlanta residents exhibit a higher risk of homelessness and interactions with the criminal justice system.

Dual-diagnosis treatment facilities, like The Summit Wellness Group, understand identifying and diagnosing both conditions accurately can be challenging. It has to be done simultaneously to provide a more effective treatment plan. Most SUDs worsen the symptoms of mental illness and vice versa. If only one condition is treated at a time, the risk for relapse increases. People who self-medicate to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, or PTSD can worsen those disorders. As their mental health deteriorates, substance use may increase until the cycle becomes almost impossible to break.

Effective Treatments

We understand that Georgia and metro Atlanta residents with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health conditions need specialized plans. In most cases, these individuals will not benefit from a predetermined schedule that does not meet all their needs. Our clients meet with their therapists to design a plan that works for them. We have found that the best approach to dual diagnosis care is through some combination of evidence-based therapies and holistic modalities. This way, we can target multiple areas in each person’s life that need healing.

Clients can choose from various therapies and treatment options, some of which may include the following.

Medication Management

One of our priorities is stabilizing our clients and offering the most comfortable transition to sobriety. Our psychiatrists and doctors provide the best medication management plans based on your needs. We offer medications to help manage cravings, treat co-occurring mental health conditions, and minimize post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Proper medication can ease uncomfortable symptoms and make transitioning to addiction treatment easier.

Holistic Therapies

Our combination of therapeutic techniques includes various holistic rehab treatments that improve clients’ chances of leaving our facilities sober and remaining sober long-term. These techniques teach our clients positive, healthy habits that promote continued growth after the treatment program ends. Our list of holistic practices for relapse prevention includes the following:

• Yoga
• Massage Therapy
• Guided Meditation
• Adventure Activities
• Chiropractic Care
• Nutritional Program
• Therapeutic Fitness
• Art Therapy
• Acupuncture

Individual Therapy

Our dual diagnosis treatment program involves “talk therapy,” sometimes called psychotherapy. This is the number one tactic we deploy at our addiction treatment center.

It’s proved effective in taming dual diagnosis symptoms eager to hijack emotions. Individual therapy teaches clients how to tolerate feelings with accessible coping strategies. They will learn emotional regulation techniques to manage stress, anger, and anxiety.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

The most effective therapy for treatment is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). It improves how you manage your emotions. DBT makes you more in tune with your emotional state. DBT builds coping skills, impulse control, emotional control, and getting along with others.

DBT skills are easy to integrate with existing treatment methods. This can include support groups and other therapies like motivational interviewing (MI). MI is an evidence-based practice that improves staying in treatment and positive results.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a similar therapy that improves how individuals interact with others. Our clients identify and change inaccurate beliefs and negative behaviors affecting relationships. It can reduce mood swings, anxiety symptoms, self-harming behaviors, and suicidal tendencies.

Brain Mapping

Mind mapping is a technique where the individual visually organizes information, ideas, and concepts. The therapist captures the thoughts and creates connections. The idea is to stimulate creativity and facilitate brainstorming. Individuals can easily generate new thoughts and explore different perspectives by visually mapping out ideas. The non-linear structure of mind maps allows for the free-flowing association of ideas. The client makes connections that may not have been obvious before. This allows for understanding the underlying causes of mental health disorders and substance use disorders.

EMDR

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helps individuals overcome symptoms caused by trauma and distress through eye movement. It treats dual diagnosis because it can help resolve unpleasant memories and experiences. This psychotherapy technique is based on the idea that the mind can heal from psychological trauma, similar to how the body can recover from physical trauma.

Individuals participating in EMDR learn to apply skills to approach challenging emotions. Our therapists conduct EMDR sessions weekly for about an hour.

Programs at our metro Atlanta locations in Roswell and Midtown are unique and different from most other rehabilitation facilities. We place our clients at the highest level of priority. Clinicians help develop plans and treatments centered around their needs. We offer:

• Highly individualized care that caters to the specific needs of each of our clients. Rather than trying to fit you into our programs, we fit our programs to you.
• Small group sizes allow you to receive feedback from leaders and other clients. This will enable you to take an active role in your recovery process. We believe that this helps to validate your voice and experience.
• A favorable client-to-staff ratio of 2:1 is far above other Georgia (and National) treatment providers. Our staff can devote more time to each of our clients, ensuring that the level of care we provide never falters.
• A diverse group of facilitators and therapists. We can match you with the best team of people with the knowledge base, resources, experience, and dedication to help battle your mental health conditions and substance abuse together.
• Licensed clinicians run each of our groups and programs. We’re constantly updating resources and methods to keep our practices up-to-date.

Intensive Outpatient Program

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are a flexible treatment option without an inpatient stay. You get to maintain your daily routines while still addressing your bipolar. IOP aims to stabilize mood swings, manage symptoms, and improve functioning.

Medical Detox

Medically-assisted detox benefits our physically dependent clients, who experience withdrawal symptoms when they don’t abuse the substance.

This treatment approach provides a safe and supervised environment where our clients can detoxify from substance use and manage the symptoms that arise. This is the first step to treatment and is essential for long-term recovery.

During detox, our clients gain physical freedom from substances in a relaxing environment surrounded by experts. Our detox services and professional drug rehab treatment center help clients safely navigate the withdrawal process while ensuring comfort and stability – thus significantly improving the chances of maintaining sobriety.

While in medical detox at The Summit Wellness Group, our treatment team provides the necessary support and medical care for fentanyl addiction. In the case of severe addictions, we can provide medication-assisted treatment to help individuals navigate withdrawal symptoms.

The Ideal Environment

We currently have two metro Atlanta locations, one in Roswell and one in Atlanta. Each site fosters a calming, relaxing environment supportive of dual-diagnosis treatments. From the moment you walk through our front door, we want to ensure you feel welcomed and cared for.

Our Roswell location is more secluded, surrounded by trees and other natural features. This allows our clients to feel comfortable and private in their recovery journey. We know that this can be a difficult and frustrating time for many of our clients, which is why the mountain lodge touches of this location were put in place. Unless they are in session, our therapists’ doors are always open. Our clinicians will never pass by you without checking in to see your day and how you’re doing.

Our Atlanta rehab facility is located in the center of the city. It takes on a more modern industrial vibe with huge windows, tall ceilings, outdoor spaces, private rooms for group and individual therapy, and beautiful artwork that captures the eclectic feel of the city.

A Staff That Cares

Conveniently located in metro Atlanta, one of our main goals at The Summit Wellness Group is ensuring each client feels important. You are a person who might be struggling with mental health or substance abuse, but that is only one piece of your story. When you come to our facilities, you will be treated with kindness, warmth, and respect by a healthcare staff that cares about your life.

Some of our staff have experienced drug addiction, and some haven’t. Our professionals’ diversity allows us to show compassion and respect for each person’s unique needs. When we look at you, we see ourselves and hope you feel like part of the family when you come to us.