Medication assisted treatment for co-occurring disorders

Medication Assisted Treatment

Addiction Treatment has many facets, and sometimes Medication Assisted Treatment is not enough. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA), almost 40 percent of all people who experience addiction also have a co-occurring mental health condition. The most common co-occurring disorders include depression and anxiety. Other conditions may include:

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Eating disorders
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Sleep disorders
Impulsive disorders
Schizophrenia
Personality disorders

It’s not clear the role these disorders play in addiction. They may make addiction more likely or result from substance abuse. No matter the cause and effect, co-occurring disorders can complicate treatment.

Studies have found that people with co-occurring disorders are more likely to seek treatment for addiction. Unfortunately, these patients can be much harder to treat. Research shows that this population may be at a higher risk for suicide, incarceration, and homelessness than others with substance use disorder only. It can be more difficult for patients with co-occurring disorders to achieve long-term abstinence because of the challenges facing their other condition.

Barriers to MAT for People with Co-Occurring Disorders

Finding treatment for both opioid use disorder and mental health treatment can be difficult. Some medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs won’t accept people with co-occurring disorders while many mental health providers don’t offer MAT. This can leave patients with only half the care and support they need to gain sobriety.

MAT treatment is also vastly underutilized in many areas of the United States. While California has seen success in expanding MAT services through concentrated efforts and funding, other states have not provided the same resources to healthcare providers. Though MAT has proven effective, many people misunderstand how it works. You simply cannot take MAT and expect for your addiction to disappear. Sobriety is complex and achieved using the combination of many modalities.

As MAT services continue to expand, however, addiction treatment providers must be prepared to offer more intensive support to the nearly half of all MAT users who experience co-occurring disorders.

A Combined Approached to Care

Evidence has long shown that medication-assisted treatment is most effective when combined psychological counseling like cognitive behavioral therapy, individual therapy, and group therapy. While medication-assisted treatment allows patients to stop drug use without withdrawal, counseling gives them the tools they need to maintain sobriety.

For patients with co-occurring disorders, medication-assisted treatment can still be effective while offering an opportunity for additional care. They may need supplemental, and more intensive, therapies to treat the additional mental health conditions. Once they are established with medication-assisted treatment, they may also need additional medicines to treat their other conditions.

While achieving sobriety is the first goal of care, each aspect of their treatment should be planned with their co-occurring disorder in mind. Each patient should be screened for additional disorders before starting MAT. Based on the severity of the co-occurring disorder, they should be offered additional resources and treatment. These resources may include:

Inpatient treatment
Outpatient treatment
Community support such as vocational training, education, or support groups
Psychotherapy, including individual, family, or group therapy
Management by a primary care physician
Medication management by a psychiatrist

With the right level of care and resources in place, patients have the greatest opportunity for improved mental and physical health.

Benefits of MAT for People with Co-Occurring Disorders

New studies reveal that people with co-occurring disorders who receive MAT are more likely to remain sober than patients who do not receive MAT. Patients with some conditions, like PTSD, also saw a decline in those symptoms after MAT and counseling.

Even with co-occurring disorders, patients are likely to see the benefits of MAT, including:

A decreased risk for incarceration
A decreased risk of homelessness
A decreased risk of unemployment
A decreased risk for overdose and death
A decreased risk for conditions such as hepatitis and HIV
Improved chances for long-term abstinence

MAT may offer the best chance for patients with or without co-occurring disorders to achieve sobriety and improve their health. Addiction treatment providers should strive to offer comprehensive care to help the largest number of patients possible and address the growing opioid epidemic.

At Harmony Place, we provide both medication-assisted treatment and counseling for co-occurring disorders. We seek to give you all the tools and support you need to achieve better mental health as well as long-term abstinence. Our comprehensive services, from individual therapy to yoga, inpatient treatment to group therapy, can be personalized to fit your needs and give you the best chance at success.

At Harmony Place in Woodland Hills, California, we provide a relaxing, comfortable environment for addiction treatment and recovery with many addiction treatment program options, including our Medication Assisted Treatment program. Contact us today at 1-(888)-789-4330 to learn more about our services and how you or your loved one can prepare for a successful rehabilitation from drug and alcohol addiction at our California treatment center.