Substance Abuse and Mental Health Facilities in Atlantic City, NJ

It is not always easy to tell if you have been struggling with the common mental health problems associated with drug and alcohol addiction in Atlantic City. However, if you display some signs and symptoms, there is a high likelihood that you would have this struggle - which is also known as a dual diagnosis for addiction and a co-occurring mental health disorder.

These signs include financial problems, issues with relationships, social isolation, incarceration, homelessness, and difficulties managing your responsibilities and obligations at home, work, and school. In such a situation, you should go for evaluation to tell if you have a dual diagnosis.

Psychosis

Research studies show a link between substance abuse and psychosis. Substance abuse occurs when you take any illicit drug, use prescription medications without a valid prescription or outside the prescribing instructions of your doctor, or taking legal substances in excess.

SAMHSA - the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - reports that addiction tends to occur often alongside psychosis. This is because some of the symptoms of substance abuse often resemble those that occur when you are struggling with this mental health disorder. If you are diagnosed with psychosis, you may also turn to these substances and eventually find yourself dealing with a clinical addiction.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is linked to imbalances in the chemicals that are found in the brain - including but not limited to dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate. These imbalances will affect the response of your brain to external stimuli. As a result, you can experience hallucinations and hypersensitivity - some of the common symptoms of this mental health disorder.

There are also differences in the structure of the brain occurring with schizophrenia. These differences include enlarged ventricles (the cavities at the core of the brain that are filled with fluid), decreased gray matter, and decreased or increased activity in certain parts of the brain.

There are highly qualified and accredited dual diagnosis treatment centers available today. These centers offer services that can get you started on the road to long term recovery.

Examples of these integrated treatment and rehabilitation services include detox, individual therapy, medication management, group therapy, aftercare planning, evidence-based therapies, family therapy, relapse prevention, couples counseling, and alternative or complementary therapies.

Through these services, you can get the help that you need to able to overcome your substance abuse as well as deal with other co-occurring disorders that might be occurring at the same time. This is why dual diagnosis treatment is the right option for these disorders.