You’re not “too complicated,” you’re human. We’re here to help you recover on every level.
What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?
Co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis, refer to the presence of both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder in the same person at the same time. These two conditions often influence and worsen each other, which makes treatment more complex. For example, someone might develop a substance use disorder to cope with symptoms of depression or anxiety, or their substance use may trigger or worsen a condition like PTSD or bipolar disorder. Since the two are interconnected, effective treatment has to address both at once, typically through a combination of therapy, counseling, and sometimes medication to stabilize mental health while treating the addiction.
How Do Co-Occurring Disorders Form?
It’s not uncommon for someone struggling with addiction to develop signs of a mental health disorder, or for someone with a mental health disorder to start using drugs or alcohol to manage their symptoms. Many people struggle with undiagnosed anxiety or PTSD, and drugs or alcohol can temporarily ease those symptoms, only for the side effects to end up making the underlying issue worse. In either case, treatment matters to prevent complications like mental health crises, overdose, or the broader toll of long-term addiction.
Signs and Symptoms of Co-Occurring Disorders
- Frequent substance use. Relying on drugs or alcohol to manage stress, anxiety, or other mental health symptoms.
- Worsening mental health symptoms. Increased depression, anxiety, or mood instability, particularly when not using.
- Difficulty functioning in daily life. Struggling to maintain responsibilities at work, school, or in relationships.
- Behavioral changes. Irritability, erratic mood swings, or uncharacteristic behavior that interferes with daily life.
- Social withdrawal. Isolating from friends and family, often to hide substance use or avoid situations tied to mental health challenges.
- Physical health issues. Sleep disturbances, appetite changes, and unexplained fatigue or illness.
- Risk-taking behaviors. Dangerous activities, often under the influence or in response to emotional distress.
What the Research Shows
People with a mental illness are more likely to also experience a substance use disorder than people without one. An estimated 17 million U.S. adults have a co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder, and roughly a third of all people with a mental illness, and about half of those with a severe mental illness, also experience substance use issues. In clinical samples, an estimated 37% of people with alcohol use disorder and 53% of people with another drug use disorder also have at least one serious mental illness.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Options and Levels of Care at GBAC
Partial Hospitalization (PHP)
Day treatment, roughly 20–30 hours of programming a week, combining addiction care with psychiatric evaluation and medication management for people who need more support than weekly therapy but don’t need to live at a treatment center.
Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
Roughly 9–20 hours of weekly programming, including an evening option, designed to fit around work, school, and family while keeping both conditions in view.
Outpatient and Aftercare
Standard outpatient suits people who are stable or stepping down from a higher level of care. Aftercare includes ongoing counseling, psychiatric follow-up, and a relapse prevention plan that accounts for both conditions.
Therapy Options for Co-Occurring Disorders
Our integrated approach treats both conditions at once, typically through CBT to change negative thought patterns, group therapy and peer support to build a shared recovery community, and family therapy to bring loved ones into the recovery process. Medication-assisted treatment may also be part of the plan when opioid or alcohol use disorder is involved.
How to Choose the Right Level of Care
Our admissions team weighs your mental health history, your substance use, how the two interact, and your living situation, to recommend a starting point.
What Happens When You Contact GBAC
A confidential first call covers both your mental health and your substance use, not just one or the other. From there, next steps typically include a psychiatric and clinical assessment, insurance verification, and a level-of-care recommendation.
Does Insurance Cover Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
Many private plans cover medically necessary treatment, though deductibles, copays, coinsurance, network rules, and prior authorization vary by plan. We work with most major insurers and verify your benefits and expected costs for free; checking doesn’t commit you to treatment.
Talk to Someone Who Can Help You Take the Next Step
We’re in Needham, MA, serving Boston, Dedham, Newton, Waltham, Wellesley, West Roxbury, Dorchester, and nearby communities. Call (877) 920-6583 for a free, confidential conversation, or verify your insurance online — neither one commits you to anything.
Frequently asked questions
What are co-occurring disorders, and how does GBAC treat them?
Co-occurring disorders, or dual diagnosis, means a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder are present at the same time, often triggering or worsening each other. We treat both together with an integrated plan, including therapy, counseling, and medication management when appropriate, rather than treating one and hoping the other resolves on its own.
Why is treating both conditions at the same time important?
The two conditions are interconnected: addressing only the substance use can leave the underlying mental health condition to drive a relapse, and addressing only the mental health condition without the substance use rarely works either.
Do clients from Waltham or Wellesley travel to Needham for co-occurring disorder treatment?
Yes. We're based in Needham, MA, and see clients from across the area, including Waltham, Wellesley, Newton, and Boston.
What therapies are included in dual diagnosis treatment at GBAC?
Cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy and peer support, and family therapy are core parts of treatment, alongside medication-assisted treatment when opioid or alcohol use disorder is part of the picture.
Does insurance cover co-occurring disorder treatment in Massachusetts?
Many private plans cover medically necessary treatment, though deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and authorization requirements vary by plan. We verify your benefits for free before you commit to anything.