Trust SoCalDrug & Alcohol Treatment Center
Trust SoCalDrug & Alcohol Treatment Center
Integrated care for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
Dual diagnosis refers to the co-occurrence of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder in the same individual. These conditions are not simply coincidental -- they are deeply interconnected through shared neurobiological pathways, genetic vulnerabilities, and environmental risk factors. When left untreated, each condition amplifies the other, creating a cycle of worsening symptoms that is extremely difficult to break without integrated professional care.
At Trust SoCal, our JCAHO-accredited dual diagnosis program treats both conditions simultaneously within a single, coordinated treatment plan. Our multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, licensed therapists, and addiction specialists uses evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR, medication management, and holistic wellness practices to address the full complexity of co-occurring disorders.
Mental health and addiction treated together, not separately, for better outcomes.
Gold-standard accreditation ensuring the highest quality of clinical care.
Psychiatrists, therapists, and addiction specialists trained in dual diagnosis care.
Every treatment plan is tailored to your unique combination of conditions and needs.
Trust SoCal provides specialized treatment for a wide range of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Select any condition below to learn more about our approach.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the United States, affecting approximately 40 million adults each year. When anxiety disorders co-occur with substance use disorders, the relationship between the two conditions creates a self-reinforcing cycle that can be extremely difficult to break without professional treatment. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or specific phobias frequently turn to alcohol, benzodiazepines, marijuana, or opioids in an attempt to self-medicate the persistent feelings of worry, dread, and physical tension that characterize anxiety.
Learn MoreMajor Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. When depression co-occurs with substance use disorder, the two conditions create a devastating feedback loop: depression drives individuals to seek relief through substances, and substance use deepens depressive symptoms through neurochemical disruption, social isolation, and the accumulation of negative consequences.
Learn MorePost-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that develops after exposure to a traumatic event such as combat, sexual assault, a serious accident, natural disaster, or childhood abuse. PTSD is characterized by intrusive re-experiencing of the trauma through flashbacks and nightmares, persistent avoidance of reminders of the event, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and heightened states of arousal including hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, and chronic sleep disturbance.
Learn MoreBipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mood disorder characterized by alternating episodes of mania (or hypomania) and depression. During manic episodes, individuals experience elevated energy, reduced need for sleep, grandiosity, impulsivity, and racing thoughts. During depressive episodes, they experience profound sadness, fatigue, hopelessness, and withdrawal. The dramatic mood cycling of bipolar disorder creates an extraordinarily high vulnerability to substance use disorders -- in fact, bipolar disorder has the highest rate of co-occurring addiction of any mood disorder.
Learn MoreAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning. While commonly associated with childhood, ADHD frequently persists into adulthood, where it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. The relationship between ADHD and substance use disorders is well-established: individuals with ADHD are significantly more likely to develop addiction than their neurotypical peers, and the condition is frequently identified for the first time when individuals enter treatment for substance use.
Learn MoreObsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that produce intense anxiety, and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce that anxiety. OCD goes far beyond the popular misconception of "liking things neat" -- it is a deeply distressing condition that can consume hours of a person's day and severely impair functioning in work, relationships, and daily life.
Learn MoreEating Disorders
Eating disorders -- including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder -- are serious mental health conditions characterized by disturbed eating behaviors, distorted body image, and intense preoccupation with food, weight, and shape. The co-occurrence of eating disorders and substance use disorders is remarkably common, with research showing that up to 50% of individuals with an eating disorder also struggle with substance abuse, a rate five times higher than in the general population.
Learn MoreBorderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition characterized by pervasive instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions, and behavior. Individuals with BPD experience intense and rapidly shifting emotions, chronic feelings of emptiness, a deep fear of abandonment, and frequent interpersonal conflicts. Impulsivity is a core feature of the disorder, manifesting as reckless spending, unsafe sexual behavior, self-harm, and -- critically -- substance abuse.
Learn MoreChronic Pain Syndrome
Chronic pain syndrome is a complex condition in which pain persists for three months or longer, often continuing well beyond the expected healing time for an injury or illness. Chronic pain affects an estimated 50 million American adults, and the relationship between chronic pain and substance use disorders -- particularly opioid addiction -- has become one of the defining public health crises of our time. The opioid epidemic was largely fueled by the over-prescription of opioid painkillers to chronic pain patients, and millions of individuals now live with the dual burden of persistent pain and addiction.
Learn MoreTrauma-Related Disorders
Trauma-related disorders encompass a broad spectrum of psychological conditions that develop in response to experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. While PTSD is the most widely recognized trauma-related diagnosis, many individuals experience trauma responses that do not meet full PTSD criteria but nonetheless profoundly affect their mental health and behavior. These include complex trauma (resulting from prolonged, repeated traumatic exposure), developmental trauma (childhood abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction), acute stress disorder, and adjustment disorders with traumatic features.
Learn MoreResearch consistently demonstrates that treating mental health disorders and substance use disorders separately produces inferior outcomes compared to integrated dual diagnosis treatment. When only the addiction is addressed, the underlying mental health condition continues to drive emotional distress, maladaptive coping patterns, and relapse. When only the mental health condition is treated, ongoing substance use disrupts the effectiveness of psychiatric medication, impairs the brain's ability to heal, and prevents meaningful engagement in therapy.
At Trust SoCal, our dual diagnosis approach ensures that both conditions are evaluated, treated, and monitored by a coordinated clinical team from the moment of admission through aftercare planning. Our psychiatrist manages medications that address mental health symptoms without introducing addiction risk, while our therapists use evidence-based modalities that target the interconnections between both conditions. This integrated model results in lower relapse rates, improved psychiatric stability, and more sustainable long-term recovery.
Take the first step toward recovery today. Our admissions team is available 24/7.
Dual diagnosis treatment is an integrated approach that simultaneously addresses a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. Rather than treating each condition separately, dual diagnosis programs coordinate psychiatric care, psychotherapy, and addiction treatment within a single comprehensive plan. This integrated model produces significantly better outcomes because it addresses the root causes and interconnections between both conditions.
Dual diagnosis is extremely common. According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 21.5 million adults in the United States had both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder in the past year. Nearly half of all individuals with a severe mental health condition also experience substance use problems, and roughly one-third of people with any mental illness also struggle with addiction.
Yes. Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, health insurance plans are required to provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment at the same level as medical and surgical care. Most major insurance plans, including PPO, HMO, and government-sponsored plans, cover dual diagnosis treatment. Trust SoCal works with most major insurance providers and offers free insurance verification.
Treatment duration depends on the severity of both conditions, but most clients benefit from 60 to 90 days of primary treatment followed by ongoing outpatient care and aftercare support. Some individuals may need extended residential treatment, while others may transition to partial hospitalization (PHP) or intensive outpatient (IOP) more quickly. Your treatment team will recommend a timeline based on your individual clinical assessment.
Trust SoCal is JCAHO accredited and staffed by a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, licensed therapists, and addiction specialists who are specifically trained in dual diagnosis treatment. We use evidence-based therapies including CBT, DBT, EMDR, and medication management within an integrated treatment model. Our low client-to-clinician ratio ensures personalized attention, and our full continuum of care -- from medical detox through aftercare -- provides support at every stage of recovery.
Recovery begins with a single step. Our compassionate team is here to guide you every step of the way.