Programs like this, which individuals can find at addiction treatment facilities such as Georgia Addiction Treatment Center, are needed because substance use disorders can come with co-occurring issues. The best addiction treatment programs will treat an individual’s substance use disorder and co-occurring issue at the same time. For many individuals, substance use disorders come with unresolved mental health issues or can give rise to physical health problems. About 60% of individuals with a substance use disorder will also struggle with co-occurring mental illness.
This situation can affect men and women differently, too. When it comes to addiction recovery, gender-specific dual diagnosis treatment will be able to address particular emotional and medical needs of individuals without making their sexuality or gender an issue.
Dual diagnosis treatment recognizes and addresses the aspects of addiction that are related to mental health, which improves chances of successful recovery. Men’s and women’s dual diagnosis treatment programs can also help individuals build supportive and lasting relationships with peers in a safe and judgment-free environment.
Benefits of Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment
Gender-neutral addiction treatment programs can be very effective and helpful, but gender-specific treatment provides some advantages that some individuals will require to recover successfully – such as:
Peer support: Listening to or opening up to peers could be easier when everyone is of the same gender. There would be no time would be wasted in explaining things the other sex can’t understand, or no shame in talking about gender-specific topics – such as intimate hygiene. Shared experiences encourage individuals in rehab to participate.
Effective treatment: Participation is essential when it comes to recovery. If an individual doesn’t feel safe and comfortable in a space they share with members of the opposite sex, they will be less likely to speak up. They won’t benefit from group therapy sessions.
Fewer distractions: For some, being around members of the opposite gender in rehab can be distracting. In some cases, there could be emotional or sexual tension. Individuals that should be focusing on recovery may be too shy to open up or end up becoming distracted by being attracted to someone else. On top of the tension that builds in gender-neutral environments, some may have an aversion to being around members of the opposite sex – their presence may be a trigger more than a distraction.
Benefits of Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Substance use disorder is more than just a struggle with drugs or alcohol. It can develop due to unresolved issues and trauma or because of other mental health problems. These co-occurring issues need to be discovered and diagnosed before treatment, so dealing with them becomes part of addiction treatment, too.
Dealing with substance use disorder and mental health issues at the same time can result in a difficult balance. Individuals need to address any mental health issues before they work on tackling their substance use disorder. However, it’s not easy to work on either condition by treating only one at a time. The following are some benefits of treating both at once with dual diagnosis treatment:
Full psychiatric health assessment: Rather than focusing on substance abuse only, a dual diagnosis treatment program takes into account the psychological aspects of addiction.
Focused care: Dual diagnosis treatment programs will often be run by professionals that have trained and studied to provide specific care for certain mental health issues. For example, if an individual has family-based trauma then family therapy could be needed.
Treatment for both mind and body: Many dual diagnosis treatment centers follow a holistic approach – treating the whole individual and not just parts that relate to substance abuse – because they are already designed to provide care for more than one disorder. Some may even have the equipment and staff to support co-occurring physical issues. For example, some individuals may have extreme liver damage or heart problems due to addiction that will need medical monitoring while they’re in recovery.
What Individuals Should Look for in a Men’s Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center
Dual diagnosis treatment centers can give individuals full assessments to identify any co-occurring mental disorders that they might have along with addiction. However, just because they can diagnose these issues doesn’t mean they have the means to treat them. Make sure that the men’s dual diagnosis treatment center you choose can handle taking care of you and your dial diagnosis.
You should always choose addiction treatment facilities with dedicated gender-specific programs, such as Georgia Addiction Treatment Center. However, the priority should be finding a program that’s a perfect fit for your needs – and not just the gender-specific ones. For example, if you have issues that are making it difficult for you to get addiction treatment – such as not being able to take time off school or work – prioritize programs with offerings that can serve as a compromise.
Look for men’s dual diagnosis treatment programs that use multiple forms of therapy, because not all individuals will respond the same way to treatment. Some will need nonstandard forms of care or a combination of therapies to discover the underlying psychological factors that contributed to their substance use disorder and other mental conditions.
What makes a men’s dual diagnosis treatment program special?