Co-Occurring Disorders: Integrated Treatment for Better Outcomes
Living with both mental health challenges and substance use concerns can feel confusing, isolating, and overwhelming. Many people aren’t sure where one condition ends and the other begins—or whether they’re even connected at all. These experiences are known as co-occurring disorders, sometimes called a dual diagnosis, and they are far more common than many people realize.
This article should help you better understand co-occurring disorders, why integrated treatment matters, what treatment includes, and how addressing mental health and substance use together can lead to more stable, long-term recovery. For people and families in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, we’ll also explain what integrated co-occurring disorders treatment looks like at Sanford Behavioral Health and why coordinated care under one roof can make a meaningful difference.
Understanding co-occurring disorders
Someone has co-occurring disorders when they have both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time. Either condition may develop first, and in many cases, each can worsen the other over time.
Mental health disorders commonly involved in co-occurring conditions include depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Substance use disorders may involve alcohol, opioids, stimulants, prescription medications, or multiple substances.
Why do these conditions often occur together
Mental health symptoms and substance use often overlap for understandable reasons. Some people try to use alcohol or drugs to cope with overwhelming emotions, trauma-related symptoms, stress, or mood changes. Others with long-term substance use start having changes in their brain chemistry that contribute to depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric symptoms.
Over time, both conditions will influence each other, especially when left unmanaged. It becomes a cycle:
- Mental health symptoms increase substance use
- Substance use worsens mental health symptoms
- Both conditions become more difficult to manage independently
Treating one condition without addressing the other often leads to incomplete or only short-term progress. Someone who completes addiction treatment without working on their mental health is more likely to relapse when they face a trigger like stress or a mood episode. They may not learn healthy, substance-free outlets, which means their stress levels can spike and have them feeling powerless.
Common symptoms of co-occurring disorders
Symptoms of co-occurring disorders can vary widely because there are so many different mental health conditions and experiences with addiction. For many people, signs of mental health concerns and substance use also overlap, making them harder to identify.
Mental health–related symptoms
- Persistent anxiety, panic, or excessive worry
- Ongoing sadness, numbness, or loss of interest
- Mood swings or emotional instability
- Difficulty concentrating or regulating emotions
- Sleep disturbances or chronic fatigue
Substance use–related symptoms
- Using alcohol or drugs to cope with stress or emotions
- Increased tolerance or needing more substances for the same effect
- Difficulty stopping despite negative consequences
- Withdrawal symptoms when not using
- Changes in relationships, work performance, or daily functioning
Why integrated treatment matters
Integrated treatment is an approach that addresses mental health disorders and substance use disorders at the same time, rather than treating them separately or one after another. This approach recognizes that co-occurring conditions are interconnected and must be treated as such to support meaningful recovery.
Benefits of integrated treatment include:
- Improved mental health stability
- Reduced relapse risk
- Better engagement in treatment
- Greater continuity of care
- More sustainable long-term outcomes
Integrated treatment is now widely recognized as the standard of care for co-occurring disorders because it reflects how these conditions actually affect someone’s real life. They’re not separate problems and shouldn’t be treated that way.
How Sanford Behavioral Health treats co-occurring disorders
At Sanford Behavioral Health outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan, co-occurring disorders treatment is built around a whole-person, integrated model of care. Rather than sending patients to different providers or facilities for mental health and substance use treatment, we offer coordinated services under one roof.
A psychiatrist-led, multidisciplinary team
Sanford’s treatment programs are guided by a full-time psychiatrist and supported by a multidisciplinary clinical team that includes therapists, medical professionals, and support staff experienced in treating complex co-occurring conditions. We bring together:
- Accurate diagnosis and medication management
- Ongoing psychiatric oversight
- Coordination between mental health and addiction treatment services
- Comprehensive assessment and individualized planning
Treatment begins with a thorough assessment that looks at mental health history, substance use patterns, trauma exposure, medical needs, and personal goals. From there, our team will create an individualized treatment plan because no two journeys to recovery are the same.
Treatment options and levels of care at our Michigan location
We offer a full continuum of care for adults with co-occurring disorders, allowing patients to receive the appropriate level of support as their needs change.
Levels of care we offer include:
- Medical detox, when needed, with 24/7 monitoring
- Residential treatment, offering structured, immersive care
- Partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
- Supportive housing and outpatient services for continued stability
You’ll never be alone in your journey forward. Even after you complete treatment, we provide long-term support and alumni programs so you can stay connected with our team and the recovery community here at Sanford Behavioral Health.
Evidence-based therapies we use in integrated treatment
Integrated treatment at Sanford incorporates evidence-based approaches that address both mental health symptoms and substance use behaviors.
Common therapies we use include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Trauma-informed care
- Motivational interviewing
- Group therapy and psychoeducation
- Medication-assisted treatment and medication management
Therapy focuses on developing coping skills, emotional regulation, relapse prevention strategies, and insight into the patterns connecting mental health and substance use.
Aftercare, relapse prevention, and long-term support
Recovery doesn’t end at discharge. Ongoing support is a key part of integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders.
We’ll help you build your support network so you can continue making progress with:
- Thoughtful aftercare planning
- Continued outpatient therapy or psychiatric care
- Relapse prevention education
- Family education and support when appropriate
The journey forward will be easier with the right support and tools. Bringing in loved ones to the treatment process will help rebuild some of the bonds that may have broken during active addiction. Everyone will get a better idea of how mental health and addiction affect daily life.
Frequently asked questions
What are co-occurring disorders?
Co-occurring disorders involve both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder occurring at the same time, with each influencing the other.
Why is integrated treatment important?
Treating both conditions together improves outcomes and reduces the likelihood of relapse compared to treating them separately.
How long does treatment last?
Treatment length varies based on individual needs, diagnoses, and progress, and may involve multiple levels of care.
Can family members be involved?
Family involvement may be part of treatment through education and therapy, depending on patient preferences and clinical recommendations.
Is help available locally in Grand Rapids?
Yes. Sanford Behavioral Health offers integrated co-occurring disorders treatment in Marne, Michigan—just outside of Grand Rapids—with a full continuum of care for adults.
Start integrated treatment at Sanford Behavioral Health
If you or someone you love is struggling with both mental health symptoms and substance use, integrated treatment can provide clarity, stability, and a path forward. At Sanford Behavioral Health, care for co-occurring conditions is compassionate, informed by clinical expertise, and coordinated, so our patients never have to navigate recovery alone. Get in touch online or call 616.202.3326 now.
