Addiction and Psychiatric Disorders
What you need to know about mental illness
Psychiatric disorders and illnesses are more common than you might think. Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and bipolar disorders are serious issues that need psychiatric and medical attention. Many substance abusers suffer from these disorders as well as their addiction. This is called dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder.
Statistics
According to the American Medical Association (AMA):
A full 53% of substance abusers have at least one psychiatric illness
Addiction is but a symptom of co-occurring disorder
That’s right: you or your loved one may be abusing drugs and alcohol simply as a way of medicating a painful mental illness. For half of all substance abusers in America, their addiction arose because they tried to treat their mental pain and anguish with drugs or alcohol. Understanding this is the key to living a happy and healthy life from here on out.
It’s a hidden problem
Unfortunately, the problem remains undiagnosed until the alcoholic or addict comes into contact with trusted medical professionals. In most cases, the dual diagnosis is either untreated or treated improperly. Because the symptoms are internal, they are harder to notice than the more obvious and destructive signs of drug and alcohol abuse. You need a medical professional trained in dual-diagnosis diagnosis and treatment. Contact Dr. Mohammad now: 818-879-9018.
Dual Diagnosis screening is crucial
If you or someone you love shows signs anxiety, depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder, don’t wait any longer for a mental health screening. Call or click to get in touch with a medical professional who can talk with you about any of these mental health disorders. The longer you wait, the harder treatment becomes. If you’re feeling any of these symptoms, your mental illness and addiction will only become worse as they feed off each other.
In order to participate in outpatient detox and / or treatment, an individual must be ambulatory, have a low risk for withdrawal complications, and have a strong support system consisting of family members or significant others.
For more information or to find out if you or someone you know is a candidate for one of our outpatient treatment programs, please call us at 818.879.9018 or email us at: 
lvbehavioral@sbcglobal.net
If you’d like more information about Dr. Mohammad, or Malibu Horizon’s services, treatment programs, or facilities, please call (877) 338-6964 or E-mail Dr. Mohammad at: lvbehavioral@sbcglobal.net
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