Having more than one medical or psychiatric condition at the same time.
In the context of addiction treatment:
Common combinations include substance use + depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, or diabetes.
What to know:
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Treating only the addiction or only the mental health issue often fails—both need attention.
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Good programs screen for co-morbidities from day one.
Example:
A person with opioid use disorder and bipolar disorder needs integrated treatment for both, not just detox.