When you’re suffering from a substance abuse disorder and struggling to find the right treatment for you, it can be difficult to find lasting success in recovery.  A possible reason for this is that substance abuse often occurs alongside an undiagnosed mental illness, which, when left untreated, can weigh down an already-heavy load and potentially lead to a greater likelihood of relapse.

We believe substance abuse is often an expression of underlying psychological or emotional pain and that’s why we use the unique and effective approach of combining clinical treatment with therapeutic counseling.  We utilize personalized treatment plans which meet your individual needs and ensure a greater chance at success and a brighter future for our patients.

A Dual-Diagnosis Approach

It’s rare that addiction exists all on its own.  And the human mind is highly complex – so many of our choices are driven by emotional, biological, and chemical processes of which we are completely oblivious.  In this way, we may be using substances to self-medicate the symptoms left by past traumas or other emotional ordeals without fully realizing or understanding what’s happening.  While many other treatment centers approach healing as though substance abuse occurs in isolation, our unique dual-diagnosis approach seeks to uncover contributing factors and provide both the appropriate clinical and therapeutic support needed for lasting recovery.

Dual diagnosis is the process by which identification of concurrent conditions is made. Co-occurring conditions may include anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or other conditions, often accompanied by distorted perceptions.  Substance abuse functions as a form of self-medication which is meant to alleviate the symptoms of a mental illness.

While this can feel to sufferers as though it does relieve symptoms in the short term, studies have shown that substance abuse worsens the symptoms of mental illness overall.  This acts like something called a positive feedback loop, wherein the symptoms of mental illness worsen, self-medication increases, and thus symptoms worsen further and things get worse and worse.  Treating substance abuse without treating any mental illness which is prompting and/or exacerbating that substance abuse is not going to be nearly as effective as diagnosing and treating both conditions at the same time.

Why Fairwinds?

Fairwinds Treatment Center is a pioneer in both dual diagnosis and pharmacology, having been founded in 1989 by Dr. M.K. El-Yousef. We have a track record of over 30 years of helping individuals and families suffering from substance abuse, eating disorders, and mental health issues to live a happy and healthy life.  We use an integrated, dual-diagnosis approach to treatment of both substance abuse and co-occurring mental illness, which means there’s no need to continue suffering.  Along with our individualized treatment plans, this can help ensure a lasting recovery.  Treatment involves daily visits from the treatment psychiatrist and 24/7 medical attention, so we’re always here to help you overcome the challenges involved in beating addiction and co-occurring mental illness.

Our highly-trained clinical team works closely with each individual, and we are specialized in treating adults with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues.  We have one of the highest staff-to-patient ratios in the industry, and our model for recovery combines individualized care with individual/group therapies. Our patients benefit from a multi-layered approach to treatment and a multi-faceted support network to firm up gains which are made throughout the course of treatment.  We have a high rate of success because of the expertise of our clinical team which treats each patient with compassion, individualized care, and respect.

Treatment at various levels includes medical stabilization, detoxification, residential/in-patient care, intensive out-patient programming, and after-care treatment. Care is facilitated by our experienced clinical team of psychiatrists, addiction and eating disorder specialists, registered nurses, nutritionists, master level therapists, and certified addiction counselors.

We’re Here to Help

If you or a loved one is seeking treatment for drug addiction, contact Fairwinds Treatment Center to discuss your situation with one of our admissions counselors.  We’re here to help with the expertise, experience, and unique, individualized approach you deserve on your road to lasting recovery and a healthy lifestyle.

Find out more about dual diagnosis.