A dual diagnosis treatment center provides care for people experiencing both a substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental health condition. Instead of treating each concern separately, integrated treatment addresses both conditions as part of the same recovery plan.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), integrated treatment can help people with co-occurring disorders receive coordinated care for both substance use and mental health conditions.
St. Joseph Health Services provides addiction and behavioral health services for adults, adolescents, and veterans throughout West Virginia and Eastern Ohio. Its treatment options include medical detox, residential care, intensive outpatient programming, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), outpatient services, and other supportive services.
People seeking care can learn more about available programs and determine which level of care may be appropriate.
If anybody out there that can hear my voice right now if you need help with anything that you have a problem with y'all sit down and talk to you like your brother your sister your father your mother it's like they've been knowing you all their life and they've been through everything that you're going through
Joe, US Marine
This place has changed me. The love I’ve felt here was needed, and I’m staying here as long as I can to get the tools I need. I’ve been clean longer than I ever have been here. They teach you how to save yourself. I’m excited about the future for the first time in a long time.
Chris, US Airforce
I’ve been in numerous rehabilitation centers, and St. Joseph Health Services is by far the best place I’ve been. I can’t get treatment like this at home. It is phenomenal how compassionate and caring these people are. There are five-star hotels, but there aren’t enough stars in the sky to put a quality on this place. The staff makes you want to be a better person.
Joe
Dual Diagnosis Treatment at St. Joseph Health Services
Dual diagnosis treatment is designed for people whose substance use and mental health symptoms may affect one another. Treating only one condition may leave the other unaddressed, which can make long-term recovery more difficult.
St. Joseph Health Services takes an integrated approach when individuals experience both addiction and mental health concerns. Treatment plans can be adjusted based on a person’s symptoms, substance use history, medical needs, treatment goals, and level of stability.
Depending on individual needs, care may include medical services, therapy, medication management, peer support, recovery education, and continuing outpatient services.
What Is Dual Diagnosis, Also Called Co-Occurring Disorders?
Dual diagnosis refers to the presence of a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time. The term co-occurring disorders is also commonly used.
Substance use and mental health symptoms can interact in different ways. For example, someone experiencing anxiety or depression may use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to manage difficult emotions. Substance use can also contribute to or worsen certain mental health symptoms.
A dual diagnosis evaluation can help clinicians understand the individual’s circumstances and identify appropriate treatment options.
How Does an Integrated Plan Address Both Conditions?
An integrated treatment plan considers substance use and mental health symptoms together rather than treating them as completely separate concerns.
Treatment may involve:
- Assessment of substance use and mental health symptoms
- Individual and group therapy
- Medication management when clinically appropriate
- Medication-assisted treatment for eligible substance use disorders
- Recovery education
- Coping and relapse-prevention strategies
- Peer recovery support
- Medical monitoring when needed
- Step-down care and outpatient services
The specific combination of services depends on the person’s needs and treatment setting.
What Conditions Can Occur Alongside Addiction?
Substance use disorders can occur alongside a variety of mental health conditions. Examples may include:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Trauma-related conditions
- Other mood or behavioral health disorders
Not everyone experiencing addiction has a co-occurring mental health condition. A professional assessment is needed to determine whether someone has a mental health disorder and what type of treatment may be appropriate.
Does Everyone With Addiction Have a Co-Occurring Mental Health Condition?
No. Having a substance use disorder does not automatically mean that a person has a mental health disorder.
However, mental health symptoms can sometimes overlap with the effects of substance use, withdrawal, medications, medical conditions, or other circumstances. This is one reason a comprehensive assessment can be important before developing a treatment plan.
When a mental health condition and substance use disorder occur together, addressing both concerns can help create a more coordinated approach to recovery.
What Happens in Dual Diagnosis Treatment Day to Day?
Daily treatment varies depending on the person’s level of care and individual needs.
Someone receiving residential or inpatient treatment may participate in scheduled therapy, recovery education, medical services, medication management, peer support, and other structured activities throughout the day.
Outpatient treatment generally provides more flexibility. Patients may attend scheduled therapy and other services while continuing to live at home and maintain appropriate responsibilities.
The goal is to provide the level of structure and support that matches the individual’s clinical needs.
What Therapies Are Used at Parkersburg?
St. Joseph Health Services’ Parkersburg location offers several levels of addiction treatment, including medical detox, residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, dual diagnosis care, medication-assisted treatment, and outpatient services.
Therapeutic services may be incorporated into an individual’s treatment plan based on their needs. Therapy can help people identify triggers, develop coping strategies, address behavioral health concerns, and build skills that support long-term recovery.
St. Joseph Health Services also provides outpatient services that may help individuals continue receiving therapy and other support as they progress through recovery.
Are TMS, MAT, or Medication Management Included When Appropriate?
Treatment options depend on the individual’s clinical needs and the services available at the appropriate location.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) may be used for certain substance use disorders when clinically appropriate. MAT combines medication with counseling and behavioral health services as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
Medication management may also be considered when a person has a mental health condition that can benefit from medication.
Other services, including specialized treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), may be considered when clinically appropriate and available.
How Does Dual Diagnosis Care Compare to Other Levels of Care?
The appropriate level of care depends on factors such as substance use severity, withdrawal risk, medical needs, mental health symptoms, safety concerns, and the individual’s ability to function outside a structured setting.
St. Joseph Health Services offers multiple levels of care, allowing treatment to be matched to the person’s needs.
Medical detox may be appropriate when someone needs medical supervision while substances leave the body. Inpatient treatment provides a structured environment for people who need more intensive support. Intensive outpatient and outpatient services provide treatment while allowing patients to live outside the treatment setting.
When Is Residential or Inpatient Treatment Recommended Versus IOP?
Residential or inpatient treatment may be considered when a person needs a structured environment, has significant substance use concerns, requires closer monitoring, or may not be able to maintain recovery safely in a less intensive setting.
Intensive outpatient treatment, or IOP, provides a higher level of outpatient support while allowing a person to return home between treatment sessions.
The appropriate level of care should be determined through a professional assessment rather than based solely on the type of substance used or a mental health diagnosis.
How Do Admissions Work?
The admissions process generally begins with an assessment of the person’s substance use, mental health, medical history, current symptoms, and treatment needs.
The admissions team can help determine which services may be appropriate and explain available treatment options, insurance coverage, and next steps.
Where Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment Available in West Virginia and Ohio?
St. Joseph Health Services provides services at locations in West Virginia and Ohio.
The Parkersburg location offers medical detox, inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, dual diagnosis services, medication-assisted treatment, and outpatient care.
The Summersville location provides medical detox, high-intensity residential treatment for dual diagnosis patients, intensive outpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and outpatient services.
St. Joseph Health Services also provides outpatient, intensive outpatient, mobile, and veteran services in Cambridge, Ohio.
Mobile outpatient services extend access to treatment across 19 counties in West Virginia and four counties in Ohio. These services can help connect people who have difficulty traveling to a treatment facility with medication-assisted treatment, therapy, and peer recovery support.
How Does Insurance and Cost Work?
St. Joseph Health Services accepts a range of insurance plans, including WV Medicaid Traditional, Health Plan WV Medicaid, Unicare WV Medicaid, Aetna WV Medicaid, Ohio Traditional Medicaid, AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio Medicaid, Molina Healthcare Ohio Medicaid, CareSource Ohio Medicaid, Humana, UMR, WV PEIA Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of West Virginia, Aetna, Aetna Medicare (outpatient only), Benefit Administration Systems, Health Plan Medicare (outpatient only), and Medicare (outpatient only).
Additional out-of-network coverage may be available through All Savers Insurance (UnitedHealthcare), Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, I.B.E.W. (Alliance Health Life Insurance Co.), and UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage.
Coverage and benefits vary by plan and level of care. For residential patients with commercial insurance, coverage must be verified with the insurance provider before admission.
Patients and families should contact the admissions team to confirm current benefits, eligibility, and any applicable out-of-pocket costs.
Why Choose St. Joseph Health Services?
St. Joseph Health Services provides multiple levels of addiction and behavioral health care across West Virginia and Ohio. Having access to different treatment settings can make it easier to transition between levels of care as a person’s needs change.
The organization serves adults, adolescents, and veterans and provides services for people experiencing substance use disorders and related behavioral health concerns.
Its treatment options include medical detox, inpatient care, intensive outpatient treatment, outpatient services, medication-assisted treatment, dual diagnosis care, mobile services, and veteran-focused services.
Learn more about the available treatment programs to explore treatment options and levels of care.
Are Programs Accredited by CARF and Licensed Through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services?
St. Joseph Health Services is CARF-accredited and licensed through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Accreditation and licensing reflect adherence to applicable standards and regulatory requirements. Patients and families should still discuss their individual treatment needs, available services, and level of care with the admissions team.
What Makes Care Person-Centered at St. Joseph Health Services?
Person-centered treatment recognizes that addiction and mental health concerns can affect each person differently.
Treatment plans may take into account an individual’s substance use history, mental health symptoms, medical needs, personal circumstances, recovery goals, and available support system.
Rather than assuming every person needs the same approach, clinicians can use assessments and ongoing observations to determine which services and level of care are most appropriate.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment FAQs
Signs that dual diagnosis treatment may be appropriate can include ongoing substance use along with persistent changes in mood, behavior, sleep, anxiety, or daily functioning. A person may also notice that mental health symptoms become more difficult to manage when using substances or attempting to stop. A professional assessment can help determine whether co-occurring treatment is appropriate.
Mental health symptoms do not automatically cause substance use, but some people may use alcohol or drugs to cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, or other difficult experiences. Substance use can also worsen existing symptoms or create new challenges, which is why addressing both concerns can be important when they occur together.
Yes. Integrated treatment allows substance use and mental health concerns to be addressed during the same course of care. Depending on the individual’s needs, treatment may combine therapy, medication management, recovery support, medical care, and other services.
A dual diagnosis assessment may review a person’s substance use history, mental health symptoms, medical history, medications, previous treatment, withdrawal concerns, and current functioning. Clinicians use this information to better understand the individual’s needs and determine an appropriate level of care.
Yes. Dual diagnosis treatment can incorporate relapse-prevention strategies that address both substance use triggers and mental health symptoms. Learning healthier coping skills, recognizing warning signs, developing a support system, and continuing appropriate behavioral health care may help support long-term recovery.
No. A person does not necessarily need a severe or complex mental health condition to benefit from integrated treatment. Treatment needs vary from person to person, and an assessment can help determine whether symptoms require additional behavioral health support alongside addiction treatment.
Yes. Some people can receive dual diagnosis care through outpatient treatment, depending on their substance use, mental health symptoms, medical needs, safety considerations, and ability to function outside a structured setting. Others may need a more intensive level of care before transitioning to outpatient services.
There is no single treatment timeline for everyone. The length of care can depend on the severity of substance use and mental health symptoms, response to treatment, medical needs, level of care, and ongoing recovery goals. Some people may transition between different levels of care as their needs change.
When comparing dual diagnosis treatment centers, consider whether the program evaluates both substance use and mental health concerns, offers appropriate levels of care, provides evidence-based therapies, has qualified clinical staff, and can coordinate medical and behavioral health services. Insurance coverage, location, treatment availability, and continuing care options may also be important factors.
Start Dual Diagnosis Treatment at St. Joseph Health Services
When substance use and mental health concerns occur together, treating both conditions can provide a more coordinated path toward recovery.
St. Joseph Health Services offers multiple levels of care throughout West Virginia and Ohio, including medical detox, inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient services, outpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, and behavioral health services.
Patients and families can contact the admissions team to learn more about treatment options, insurance coverage, eligibility, and the admissions process.
Jordan graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Marketing. She is also a graduate of Bluefield State College as a Registered Nurse. Jordan is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Walden University. Jordan has significant experience in the fields of behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment,as well as new business start-up and development.
