Dual Diagnosis

Dual Diagnosis in Teens

The teenage years are the most vulnerable periods of life as physical, psychological and social changes takes place at this point of time. At this stage, teens are caught between the sheer thrill of experiencing their independence, to maintaining their parents’ expectations, to managing peer pressures, to excelling in academics, etc. Sometimes the challenges that linger during this period paves way to addiction and other mental health issues. Most teens are stressed during this period that makes them prone to developing mental disorders like anxiety and depression as well as get inclined to drug or alcohol abuse. Sometimes, they become victims of both, a co-occurring mental health and substance abuse condition.

Teenagers with a co-occurring disorder can benefit from an integrated residential treatment program at a certified dual diagnosis rehabilitation center. Treatment at dual diagnosis rehabilitation for adolescents addresses symptoms of both mental health and addiction disorders. Dual diagnosis treatment centers use the most effective health care programs, thereby, increasing a teen’s chance of maintaining long-term sobriety. An effective dual diagnosis rehab for teens involves psychiatric care and proper medication along with therapy and educational programs about addiction in a safe and comfortable environment.

Symptoms of Dual Diagnosis

The symptoms of dual diagnosis can vary from patient to patient. However, the symptoms of substance abuse remain constant. Some of them are:

• Clumsy behavior, a lack of coordination or slurred speech
• Being unusually tired
• Sudden money problems, or household valuables and money disappearing
• Needle marks on extremities
• Bad hygiene

Some of the other warning signs of dual diagnosis in teens are:

• Sudden withdrawal from family and friends – or association with new and/or different set of friends
• Dramatic changes in behavior, such as poor performance in school or a sudden loss of interest in activities
• Participation in high-risk behaviors

What causes Dual Diagnosis

In dual diagnosis, there is no guarantee which problem will develop first. Anxious people may start using drugs for their temporary calming effect, or people dependent on alcohol can become steadily more depressed as their disease drives away their friends, family and employers.

Drugs fundamentally rewire the brain to make a person believe that he or she needs the substance – be it alcohol, opioids or stimulants like methamphetamine. Over time, a person dependent on substances would need more of the addictive substance to feel the same effect – a condition known as tolerance. Additionally, when the user tries to discontinue the substances, the body realizes that it is not getting enough of the substance and it goes into withdrawal – causing painful, unpleasant and sometimes fatal effects.

In case of an existing mental disorder, addiction can quickly overwhelm a person and ruin his or her life. Both drugs and mental illness can damage a person’s ability to reason and make sound decisions, creating potentially life-ruining situations, especially for adolescents.

Dual Diagnosis Recovery

Mental health and substance use disorders are serious enough on their own – both can severely affect an adolescent’s ability to enjoy life and can render him or her incapable of functioning normally in school and/or at home. However, the comorbidity of the two problems can have far more serious consequences. However, both the conditions are treatable at dual diagnosis treatment centers, and studies have shown that both mental illness and substance use disorders respond well to treatment.

At Sovereign Health of Rancho San Diego, we offer dual diagnosis rehabilitation for adolescents aged between 12 and 17 in a pleasant and summer camp-like residential environment. Our compassionate staff uses the latest, effective and research-backed modalities to help the young clients lead healthier and more positive lives.

At Sovereign’s dual diagnosis rehab for teens, patients engage in both individual and group therapy in a safe and secure environment that is free from distraction. They also get to participate in classes on stress reduction and anger management that help them gain a higher understanding of themselves and their world. In addition to traditional therapies, dual diagnosis rehab centers for teens also offer alternative therapies like yoga and equine therapy.

Why Choose Sovereign Health?

Sovereign Health is a leading provider of treatment for mental health problems, substance abuse and eating disorder. When seeking professional intervention for your child, we should be your first choice for the following reasons:

• Sovereign Health of Rancho San Diego is fully accredited by the Joint Commission, the largest and oldest health care accreditation and standards-setting organization in the United States
• We continually strive to use the most effective treatment methods to ensure that our patients have the best chance at a full recovery
• Our facility is safe and secure with friendly and welcoming professionals

For more information on our dual diagnosis treatment programs, call at our 24/7 helpline number 866-615-7266. Chat with our counselors to know about the top dual diagnosis rehabilitation for adolescents near you.