How the MHR Center for Men and The MHR Center for Women Works With Residents Who Have A Problem With Alcohol, Drugs, Dual Diagnosis and/or Co-Occurring Disorders

At both the MHR Center for Men as well as The MHR Center for Women, we recognize that some of our residents will suffer from a secondary or dual diagnosis disorder. To address this issue we have outside consultants whom the residents will see. For the men's facility, this will include a male psychiatrist and a male PhD. For the women, it will include a Female psychiatrist and a Female PhD. All clinical and therapeutic work with our residents will be done by the OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS. The gender specific staff members at both The Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women as well as the MHR Center for Men will only be engaging the all male and all female residents in drug and alcohol recovery via the following:

Work the holistic and spiritual 12 steps
Life skills
Becoming responsible and accountable
Nutrition
Physical exercise
Meditation
Improved communication skills
Work with the daily disciplines of steps ten, eleven and twelve

Dual Diagnosis & Co-Occurring Disorders in Gender Specific Drug & Alcohol Recovery

Dual Diagnosis and Co-Occurring Disorders are two terms that are often used to describe the co-occurring condition(s) in which a person is considered to be suffering from both a mental illness as well as a substance abuse problem. These two terms are also used interchangeably with the following terms: co-morbidity, concurrent disorders, and co-morbid disorders. For example, someone who suffers from depression may find that their depression has contributed to or led them to alcoholism. There is much debate over determining whether or not someone qualifies as a dual diagnosis candidate as the specific causes of how psychiatric illness and chemical dependency are not fully understood. There are many factors that come into determining whether or not someone is at risk for a co-occurring disorder such as:

Family History
Multiple admissions for chemical dependency
Multiple admissions for psychiatric care
Incarceration
Genetics
Brain chemistry
Other environmental factors

Having said that, making a dual diagnosis in someone who abuses drugs and/or alcohol is difficult as drug and alcohol abuse often induces or mimics psychiatric symptoms, thus making it even more necessary to differentiate between something substance induced versus a pre-existing mental illness.

Examples of co-occurring disorders include:

depression
bipolar disorder
anxiety
manic depression
body dysmorphic disorder
panic disorder

Diversity in Dual Diagnosis

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA),

“Alcoholism and psychiatric disorder frequently coexist in the same patient (a condition known as dual diagnosis). Because of the complexity of dual diagnosis, patients with this condition may be misdiagnosed and improperly treated and may “fall through the cracks” of the health care system....Dr. George Woody emphasizes that because each disorder can aggravate the course of the other, both must be treated if the patient is to have the best chance for a good outcome.” [source: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/iss20-2.htm ]

There is no one type of dual diagnosis, thereby making the very nature of proper diagnosis difficult. One resident's pattern of alcohol abuse may cause him or her to have a different type of psychiatric illness or reaction versus another resident who has a different pattern of drug abuse. Imbalances in the brain often lead to the practice of self-medication with prescription drugs, illegal drugs and/or alcohol, making psychological testing not only recommended, but absolutely necessary.

By providing stability as well as mental, emotional, physical and spiritual change, both The Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women and the MHR Center for Men provides effective gender- specific drug and alcohol rehab options for men and women who are suffering from chemical dependency and dual diagnosis symptoms.

Gender Specific Drug Rehab and Dual Diagnosis

In many cases, time away from alcohol and drugs can assist in rooting out underlying issues that could be contributing to alcoholism and drug addiction. When discussing dual diagnosis as it relates to women's drug rehab, issues such as family dynamics, childhood or adult trauma/abuse (physical, verbal, emotional), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and others are all symptomatic of traumatic or life-threatening situations that can create a very real fear for women, thereby hampering their ability to fully recover from a substance abuse problem. For men's drug rehab, issues such as childhood trauma, physical and emotional abuse, failed relationships and financial problems may be the root cause.

Both The Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women and the MHR Center for Men provides a nurturing, safe environment in which residents feel comfortable expressing themselves. We have created this environment by having an all female staff and all male staff in a gender specific community located in a beautiful, serene setting. Contact The Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women today at 877.383.4426 to find out more information, or contact the MHR Center for Men at 1.866.877.6080. You can also visit our websites where you can fill out a confidential form to inquire about which course of drug or alcohol recovery is best for you and your loved one.

Co-Occurring Disorders and Gender Specific Drug & Alcohol Recovery

At both the MHR Center for Men as well as at The Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women, we have chosen to provide a recovery-driven curriculum instead of a treatment driven curriculum. Recovery is defined as: a voluntarily maintained lifestyle composed and characterized by sobriety, personal health, and citizenship. Alcoholics and Drug addicts don’t drink or do drugs while they are in a treatment, rehab, or recovery center. The MHR Center for Men and the Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women are NOT licensed treatment centers. Rather, our drug and alcohol recovery centers give men and women the tools they need in a gender specific environment in order to experience recovery so that when they leave, they will embrace a life free of alcohol and drugs, and VOLUNTARILY follow the long continuum of care needed to experience permanent sobriety, empowerment and a life of abundance.

For the percentage of men and women who have dual diagnosis/co-occurring disorders, this idea of 'sober living' runs even deeper. From their time spent at either the MHR Center for Men or The MHR Center for Women, these residents will have learned what actions THEY must take on a daily basis in order to assume responsibility for drug and alcohol recovery in that area. Our outside consultants will provide the course of action regarding the dual diagnosis/co-occurring disorders.

At both the MHR Center for Men as well as the Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women, we cannot stress enough how important it is for family members to be involved in their loved one's drug or alcohol recovery. Often times, when a resident completes his or her drug and alcohol recovery stay, whether it's for 30, 60 or a minimum of 90 days, he or she will need the support and love of his/her family to encourage him/her to stay on the path to continued sobriety. This will often result in family members needing to start attending Al-Anon and/or therapy to understand addiction and STOP ENABLING. Remember: NO ENABLING, NO ADDICTION! Contact Mark Houston Recovery Center for Women today at 1.877.383.4426 or contact the MHR Center for Men at 1.866.877.6080 to find out how we can help you and/or your loved one recover from drug and alcohol addiction.