Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Los Angeles

What Is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis — also called co-occurring disorders — means a person is experiencing both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition simultaneously. The two conditions often intertwine: anxiety drives self-medication with alcohol or benzodiazepines; depression deepens opioid dependence; trauma fuels stimulant use. Treating one without addressing the other routinely leads to relapse. Dual diagnosis treatment at Sunrise Wellness provides integrated care that addresses both conditions as part of a single, coordinated plan.

How Common Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Extremely common. National data from SAMHSA indicates that roughly half of people with substance use disorders also meet criteria for a mental health diagnosis. In Los Angeles, where methamphetamine-related psychosis and fentanyl-related trauma are prominent, co-occurring disorders are the norm rather than the exception. The program is built to treat the whole person — not just the substance.

What Mental Health Conditions Are Treated Alongside Addiction?

The dual diagnosis program addresses anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety), major depressive disorder and persistent depression, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, bipolar I and II disorder, ADHD, borderline personality disorder, and other DSM-5 diagnosable conditions. Every client receives a psychiatric evaluation upon admission to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.

How Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment Different?

Programs that treat only addiction often refer clients to separate mental health providers — creating gaps in care during the most vulnerable period of recovery. Through Sunrise Wellness, the clinical team at the program includes licensed therapists, psychiatrists, and addiction medicine physicians who collaborate on each client's care plan. Mental health symptoms and substance use are addressed in real time, in the same therapeutic environment, by the same clinical team.

What Therapies Are Used for Co-Occurring Disorders?

We use evidence-based modalities proven effective for both addiction and mental health, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), EMDR for trauma, motivational interviewing, and where clinically appropriate, psychiatric medication. Group therapy provides peer support from others navigating similar co-occurring challenges. Individual sessions provide the space for deeper, personalized therapeutic work.

Does Insurance Cover Dual Diagnosis Treatment in California?

Yes. Under California's SB 855 parity law, all state-regulated plans must cover both mental health and substance use disorder treatment at every level of care. Dual diagnosis treatment — which addresses both simultaneously — is covered as medically necessary care. Call (213) 436-1475 for a free insurance verification.