Dual Diagnosis Treatment.

When Dual Diagnosis Treatment is Needed

Living with both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder can feel overwhelming. Each condition is difficult on its own, but together they often create a cycle of stress, physical strain, and emotional pain. This combination is called a dual diagnosis, and it requires integrated care that treats both conditions together.

At Blue Star Recovery, we offer innovative and compassionate dual diagnosis treatment in New Jersey. Our mental health and addiction treatment program is designed to help people find balance and stability. We do more than help people stop substance use, we help them better understand themselves and give them powerful tools to manage their own recovery for the future.

What is a Dual Diagnosis?

A dual diagnosis means someone is living with both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition. Each issue is difficult on its own, but together they often feed off one another, creating stress and harm in every part of life.

Many people turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health challenges. Over time, this self‑medication can lead to addiction, while the addiction itself makes the mental health symptoms worse. The result is a painful cycle that can feel impossible to escape without help.

Common Co‑Occurring Disorders Include:

• Anxiety and prescription drug misuse
• Depression and opioid addiction
• PTSD and alcohol addiction
• PTSD and opioid addiction
• Personality disorders and cocaine use

At Blue Star Recovery, we understand the unique struggle that comes with managing both addiction and a mental health disorder Our integrated care model is designed with people with co-occurring disorders in mind. Our NJ dual diagnosis treatment program ensures that both conditions are carefully evaluated and understood. We treat co-occurring disorders simultaneously to help forge enduring recovery.

What are the Symptoms of a Substance Use Disorder?

Substance use disorders (SUDs) often show up in everyday life in ways that are easy to overlook. Recognizing the signs early matters, especially when mental health challenges are also present. Together, these issues, known as a dual diagnosis or co‑occurring disorders, can make recovery even harder without the right support. If you notice any of these signs in a loved one or a family member, it may indicate a deeper problem:

• Experiencing urges to drink alcohol or use drugs
• Difficulty controlling the amount or frequency of substance use
• Neglecting responsibilities and obligations
• Engaging in risky behavior
• Lying or hiding substance use
• Poor performance at school, work, and at home

When substance use combines with a mental health disorder, symptoms often intensify. Anxiety, depression, or other conditions can worsen under the strain of addiction, creating a cycle that feels overwhelming. In fact, most people who have a co-occurring disorder with their addiction are unaware or undiagnosed until they enter drug and alcohol rehab. Simply put, integrated treatment for dual diagnosis is the answer, even when you’re not certain if you or your loved one has a co-occurring disorder.

Signs and Symptoms of Substance Use Disorder

Addictions, also called substance use disorders (SUDs) can show up in many ways. Together, these conditions often intensify one another and make daily life even harder. Recognizing the signs early is important, especially when mental health challenges are also present.

• Behavioral changes
• Sleep disturbances (too little or too much)
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Reckless or risky behavior
• Weight loss or sudden weight gain
• Changes in appetite
• Financial difficulties
• Relationship problems
• Legal issues
• Poor hygiene
• Red eyes or dilated pupils
• Agitated behavior
• Mood swings

When substance use occurs alongside a mental health disorder, symptoms often become more severe. Anxiety, depression, or other conditions can worsen under the strain of addiction, creating a cycle that feels impossible to break.

Why Integrated Care Matters:
Treating substance use without addressing mental health leaves part of the problem unresolved. Integrated care focuses on both conditions at once, giving people the best chance to heal fully and build a healthier future.

What are the Symptoms of a Mental Health Disorder?

Mental health disorders often show up through changes in mood, thoughts, and behavior. Each condition is unique, but many share common warning signs. Recognizing these symptoms early is important, because untreated mental health challenges can affect daily life and increase the risk of substance use. Certain mental health disorders like post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder can affect a person’s wellbeing on a daily basis.

While each disorder is different and will show different symptoms, there are some common behavioral changes that can point to a deeper issue. These symptoms can include:

• Problems sleeping
• Irrational or racing thoughts
• Noticeable changes in behavior or personality
• Using drugs or alcohol to cope
• Frequent mood swings
• Delusions or hallucinations
• Difficulty concentrating
  

How Untreated Mental Health Disorders Can Trigger Addiction

When mental health disorders go untreated or undertreated, many people turn to substances as a way to self‑medicate. For example, someone with PTSD may use alcohol to numb intrusive memories, while a person with anxiety might misuse prescription medications or stimulants to feel calmer or more focused. Over time, this coping strategy can evolve into dependence and addiction, which only makes things worse.

Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows that people with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD are more likely to use substances and develop addiction, especially when mental health care is not accessible. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) also notes that mental disorders can alter the brain in ways that make drugs feel more rewarding, further increasing the risk of substance use.

This cycle of self‑medication highlights why integrated treatment is so important. Addressing both the mental health condition and the substance use disorder together gives people the best chance to heal fully and build sustainable recovery.

Common Types of Co-occurring Disorders

There are many combinations of dual diagnosis cases, each with their own problems to tackle. Common forms of mental health disorders involved with substance use disorder include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Borderline personality disorder
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

It is important to note that these conditions can exist alongside an addiction without being officially diagnosed as a dual diagnosis. If you or a loved one is suffering from both a drug addiction and mental health disorder, don’t hesitate to reach out for help sooner than later. Blue Star Recovery center is here for you!

What to Expect During Dual Diagnosis Treatment in New Jersey

Our Dual Diagnosis Treatment approach involves a comprehensive plan that includes various therapies, medications, and activities tailored to each individual’s unique needs. With the help of our qualified professionals, we can address both mental illness and substance use disorder. Both conditions are treated at the same time, but separately. This is a crucial part of the process to ensure progress and successful treatment.

Treatment may involve a combination of therapy and medication where needed. Some of our most common types of treatment include:

• Individual counseling – Therapy in a safe and private environment with just you and a therapy (1-on-1 setting)
• Group therapy – Therapy done in a group setting with a supportive and open environment
• Medication management (MAT) – This form of treatment involves medication to ease symptoms while a person continues to undergo therapy treatment
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – One of the most commonly used behavioral therapies, it focuses on how your thoughts and beliefs affect how you feel.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) – DBT is another form of therapy that helps you learn to tools to manage negative emotions and set boundaries

It is important to note that dual diagnosis treatment is highly individualized and should be tailored to each patient’s specific needs. The primary goals of dual diagnosis treatment are to reduce symptoms, improve overall functioning, and help the patient become free of substance misuse.

Blue Star Recovery is Here for You

If you or a loved one are looking for dual diagnosis treatment in New Jersey, look no further than our treatment center. Our team provides you with all the tools you need to overcome both substance use and mental health disorders. It can be a stressful and painful situation, but with the right help, you and your loved ones can start living the life you deserve. Don’t wait any longer, give us a call today to learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment program in New Jersey and start living the life you deserve.

SOURCES:

• Mental Health — National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH)
• Recent Advances in Dual Disorders (Addiction and Other Mental Disorders) — PubMed Central (NIH)
• Finding Help for Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Disorders — National Institute of Mental Health (NIH)