Dual diagnosis treatment for teens involves treating addiction and any underlying mental health disorder that is fueling it. Many times, teens will turn to drugs and alcohol when they feel depressed and anxious and don’t know why. The euphoric sensations of drugs and alcohol can be very addicting to them and cause a co-occurring disorder of addiction and other mental health disorders. When this happens, teens can find support through co-occurring disorder treatment at an accredited mental health treatment facility.
At Imagine Seattle, we help teen boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 17 who are struggling with addiction caused by depression, PTSD, or other mental health illnesses. Our behavioral therapists will develop a close relationship with your teen to help them feel comfortable about opening up and talking about their feelings. They get to the root cause of the symptoms that led to the addiction so they can begin to heal and develop new coping skills. To talk with our staff about our co-occurring disorder treatment program, call 888.346.0473 or send us a message online today, and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
Treating Addiction and Mental Health Disorders
When teenagers turn to drugs and alcohol because of their depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders, they are putting themselves at risk of serious mental and physical harm. Treating addiction and mental health disorders is possible when the therapist is aware of the disorder that is fueling the addiction.
Addiction creates self-destructive habits that convince teens that the solution to feeling better is with more drugs and alcohol. This belief becomes hard to ignore when withdrawal symptoms and cravings kick in, making them feel mentally and physically worse. If you feel your teen is using drugs or alcohol to cope with depression, look for these signs of addiction:
- Begins acting irresponsibly
- Their clothing has a musky smell from smoking
- Becomes more secretive and avoids eye contact
- Withdraws from friends and family
- Disregarding their personal appearance/hygiene
- Finding drug paraphernalia or empty bottles around the home
Even teens who are mentally healthy and experiment with drugs and alcohol can develop depression or other mental health disorders as a result of their abuse. At Imagine Seattle, we can support your teen’s recovery from addiction caused by depression, as well as those who develop depression due to their addiction.
Finding Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Teens
Enrolling your teen in a co-occurring disorder treatment program will give them the greatest chances of recovery and managing their symptoms and triggers. If left untreated, their mental health will continue to deteriorate and cause permanent brain damage and significantly reduce their quality of life.
When searching for a dual diagnosis treatment for teens, look for the following programs and services as a minimal level of care:
- Behavioral therapy—Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a proven method for treating addiction, depression, PTSD, and other mental health disorders. It focuses on helping teens replace negative thinking and behaviors with more positive habits. It teaches them coping skills for managing their symptoms and triggers while improving their self-esteem and confidence.
- Medication-assisted treatment—Medication is administered during the treatment program to minimize addiction withdrawals and cravings. Medical staff will closely monitor each patient to ensure the medications are effective and make any adjustments to avoid any negative side effects.
- Family therapy—Parents and siblings will be involved in the recovery process to create a supportive home environment. Everyone will talk with a therapist about any issues they are struggling with due to the addiction and work on mending broken trust or relationships to create a stronger family bond.
- Educational support—Making sure your teen does not fall behind in schoolwork is essential. Make sure the treatment center you choose offers assistance with their classes so they can continue their education.
Dual diagnosis treatment for teens is necessary if their depression or social anxiety leads them to experiment with drugs or alcohol, which becomes an addiction. It is the safest way for them to recover and greatly reduces the risk of relapse and overdose.
Imagine Seattle’s Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment Program Can Support Your Teen’s Recovery and Mental Health
At Imagine Seattle, our outpatient treatment center is available for teens aged 12-17 who are struggling with addiction and a co-occurring disorder of depression, PTSD, or other mental health illnesses. During admissions, we will run a full assessment to determine the severity of your teen’s addiction and mental health and place them in an appropriate treatment program.
If you are concerned your teen son or daughter is struggling with addiction and depression, call 888.346.0473 today to get your teen the help they need to beat their addiction and thrive, or fill out our online form and let us get back to you.
