Dual Diagnosis

People who abuse Stimulant medications are often self-medicating away psychiatric and physical pain.

Pain Pill addiction often occurs when people try to “self-medicate” serious psychiatric  illnesses.  People with both Heroin Addiction and a Psychiatric Disorder are call Dual Diagnosis

• Many people use heroin to cope with psychiatric problems.  Long term, this will not work, but will makes matters worse;
• This is why diagnosing and treating co-occurring psychiatric problems is so important in Addiction Medicine;
• Addiction Recovery Models , must address both the Co-occurring psychiatric issues in order to be successful.

Dr. Kittay’s Addiction and Psychiatry Model treats  Dual Diagnosis and is effective.

Withdrawal Symptoms of Amphetamine Salts and Methylphenidates

• Stimulant withdrawal is psychologically and emotionally crippling. The symptoms include fatigue and low energy, lack of motivation and enthusiasm and mood swings;
• Stimulants are not associated with physical withdrawal, which is why people sometimes trick themselves into thinking they aren’t addicted.

The vast majority of stimulant addictions can be safely and comfortably treated  outpatient, and do not need inpatient care.

Treatments are individually tailored for safety, comfort and effectiveness to minimize withdrawal symptoms and avoid medical complications. Medications are prescribed to help prevent cravings, reduce use and prevent relapse.  Medications target the brain’s reward systems, and the way nerve cells communicate restoring balance in brain chemistry. Psychiatric problems and symptoms are medically treated as necessary.

Medicines are also prescribed to treat any anxiety, depression, sleep of medical problems and most importantly co-occurring psychiatric disorders.

Stimulant addiction often occurs when people try to “self-medicate” serious psychiatric anxiety illnesses.  They use to cope with psychiatric problems such as Bipolar Disorder.  Long term, this will not work, but will makes matters worse. This is why diagnosing and treating co-occurring psychiatric problems is so important in Addiction Medicine.  Addiction Recovery Models like ours, must address both the Co-occurring psychiatric issues with the Addiction in order to be successful. Sustained  recovery is a good example of why this model is effective.

Your Individual Evaluation & Treatment Plan for Stimulants Dependency includes:

• Addiction, Medical and Psychiatric Evaluation;
• Medically Supervised Home Outpatient Detoxification;
• Evaluation and Treatment of Co-occurring Medical Disorders and Poly-Addictions;
• Medication Management of Anxiety, Sleep and/or Co-occurring Psychiatric Disorders;
• Cognitive Behavioral Restructuring of Stresses and Cues.
• Relapse Prevention.

Treatments are individually tailored for safety, comfort and effectiveness to minimize withdrawal symptoms and avoid medical complications. Medications are prescribed to help prevent cravings, reduce use and prevent relapse.  Medications target the brain’s reward systems, and the way nerve cells communicate restoring balance in brain chemistry. Psychiatric problems and symptoms are medically treated as necessary.