Co-Occurring Substance Abuse Treatment Center in Pittsburgh

Learn more about drug addiction treatment at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital Pittsburgh, PA

Those who grapple with the symptoms of an undiagnosed mental illness often turn to drugs and/or alcohol to cope with unpleasant feelings and emotions. When this is the case, the symptoms of the existing condition can worsen and a substance abuse problem can emerge.The reason why many people, including young people, come to abuse substances when a mental health disorder is present is because drugs and/or alcohol can provide the sufferer with an escape from their inner turmoil. Mental health treatment that includes care for mental health conditions and addresses the causes of substance abuse concerns is the key to helping an individual effectively cope with a mental health disorder and overcome substance abusing behaviors. Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is one such treatment provider that is equipped to care for young people who are battling the symptoms of numerous mental illnesses and is able to help these individuals learn how cease problematic substance abusing behaviors.

Helping a loved one get treatment for drug addiction

Youth who abuse substances and battle mental health concerns may cause their parents or caregivers to worry. Those who care for these young people most may also feel scared as their child drinks or abuses drugs as a means of coping with said symptoms. As a concerned loved one and your child’s greatest advocate, there are some things that can be done to help your child get the care he or she needs:

• Try not to enable your child’s substance using behaviors.
• Discuss your worry and concern with your child in an empathic manner.
• If you are unsure where to begin in the treatment-seeking process, you can contact a local mental health professional at a treatment provider to gather more information about treatment options available.
• When researching treatment options, it is a good idea to consider a provider that specializes in the care of young people who are battling mental health conditions and substance use concerns. Treatment that specializes in the mental healthcare of children and adolescents can ultimately render more favorable treatment outcomes.
• Once you have selected your treatment provider of choice, contact their admissions staff to learn more about the admissions process and their methods for care.
• When completing an initial evaluation for services, it is a good idea to provide as much information as you can about your child’s history pertaining to his or her mental and physical health.
• Once your child is engaged in treatment, it is imperative that you be part of the therapeutic process and remain an ongoing source of support.

Lastly, it is a good idea to consult with those facilitating your child’s care as these professionals can offer you guidance for helping your child remain successful when not in a therapeutic setting. By following through on the aforementioned suggestions, your child can find alleviation from his or her mental health concerns and be able to abstain from problematic substance using behaviors.

Why consider treatment for drug addiction at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital Pittsburgh, PA

When a young person uses drugs and/or alcohol as a means of coping with life’s stressors or an existing mental health problem, there are a number of effects that can occur if care is not sought and received as soon as it becomes apparent that a youth is abusing substances. Ongoing use of substances can render a person more vulnerable to the development of a serious substance abuse problem, which can ultimately worsen the state of one’s physical and mental health. Furthermore, youth who abuse drugs or alcohol are known to experience disruption to several areas of their lives. At home, these young people may have increased conflict with loves ones and experience further distress due to tension in their primary environment. With regards to behavior and academic performance at school, young people with mental health disorders and chemical dependency concerns may be unable to achieve in this setting or will likely receive disciplinary action for their problematic behavior. Lastly, youth who regularly abuse drugs and/or alcohol may have increased interaction with law enforcement if they are unable to abstain from risk-taking behaviors. Fortunately, there is care available that can help alleviate symptoms of mental illnesses and instill healthy skills that can replace problematic substance-using behaviors.

Types of drug addiction treatment offered at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital Pittsburgh, PA

As a foremost provider of child and adolescent mental healthcare, Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is devoted to providing the most effective mental health treatment, education, and assisted living services to youth who are battling emotional, behavioral, and cognitive concerns that are unique to young people. We believe that it is necessary to address and care for every need for each of our patients so that the most favorable treatment outcomes are the result. We believe all people are capable of change and possess the capacity to learn new skills and abilities that can serve well for a lifetime. Based on this belief, we facilitate a therapeutic environment that is conducive to healing and change so that each youth entrusted into our care has the opportunity to gain insight about his or her own life and develop positive skills for healthy functioning.

The methods for care utilized at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital include cognitive-behavioral approaches that implement crisis and reality theories. We believe that these approaches, coupled with a structured setting, produce lasting healing and promote interpersonal growth. Cornerstone to the care supplied by Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is individualized treatment planning within a therapeutic milieu that incorporates these approaches within several therapeutic methods. We also encourage each patient’s family to be involved in the therapeutic process so that every child and adolescent reaps the benefits of having ample support while bettering him or herself.

The following treatment methods are those that are featured within the programming offered at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital, methods that are proven to improve the lives of the population we serve:

Medication management: When symptoms of a mental health condition require the use of pharmaceutical intervention in order to alleviate said symptoms, the use of medication may be incorporated into a youth’s treatment plan. The need for medication is assessed by a psychiatrist who can then prescribe, monitor, and adjust medication(s) if it is deemed necessary for a youth’s care. Additionally medical personnel, such as nurse practitioners and nurses, assist in the supervision of medication management so that the most effective dosage of a given medication produces the most favorable results. These professionals have contact with patients on a daily basis.

Individual therapy: Held every other day on the child and adolescent inpatient units, individual therapy sessions are afforded to patients so that one-on-one time with a mental health professional can be had in order to help each youth process emotions and monitor treatment goals while in our care. This is a time in which a young person can talk about his or her successes and explore areas for improvement.

Family therapy: The involvement of each patient’s family is integral to the treatment at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital. We facilitate family therapy sessions at least one to two times over the course of a youth’s treatment. During family sessions, youth, caregivers, and other loved ones can work through familial conflicts, improve communication, and learn how to work as a team in ensuring lasting recovery from mental health and substance use concerns. Additionally, we put forth every effort to make sure each young person in our care is able to have contact with his or her family at least once a day.

Group therapy: A myriad of groups are part of the treatment feature in our inpatient programming. Groups allow patients to practice new skills that have been learned, receive additional support from our staff as well as peers, and learn new methods for managing emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. Groups are held four times a day and are led by Master’s level clinicians, nurses, and other experienced professionals. Topics covered within these groups include the following and are based on the cognitive-behavioral therapeutic approach:

• Recreation groups
• Anger management
• Diagnosis education
• Medication education
• Stress management techniques
• Social skill development
• Effective methods for coping
• Teamwork and team building skills
• The importance of and how to follow directions

Experiential therapy: In order to encourage creative expression and stress the benefits of physical activity, Southwood Psychiatric Hospital incorporates numerous experiential therapies into its inpatient programming. The following are examples of the experiential therapies patients are able to participate in during the course of treatment:

• Art
• Music
• Yoga
• Gym
• Opportunities for recreation outside

Continuing care and levels of treatment for drug addiction

While the programming offered within Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is focused on patients being able to achieve their treatment goals, we remain dedicated to helping those who come to our hospital for care in succeeding once they have completed their treatment. From the moment a youth is admitted into one of our programs, our staff begins formulating aftercare recommendations that will meet the child or adolescent’s needs. Inpatient treatment, by nature, is designed to stabilize a youth so that the therapeutic process can continue at a lower level of care. Therefore, we conduct an ongoing assessment of needs in order to ensure that referrals to another treatment provider will help a patient continue his or her success long after leaving Southwood Psychiatric Hospital.

Our staff of compassionate and caring professionals will work in collaboration with each youth and his or her family to establish how the youth will retain skills learned and which services in the community will refine and build upon those skills.

Whatever your child or adolescent’s mental health needs may be, let Southwood Psychiatric Hospital be your treatment provider of choice when trying to help your child achieve the life that he or she deserves.