Addiction can affect anyone, from a person living in poverty to someone with millions of dollars in the bank. That is what makes it so difficult to treat. Many factors influence whether someone is likely to develop an addiction, including genetics, peer pressure, a chaotic home environment, and the presence of other mental health conditions.

Sunlight Recovery is an addiction treatment center with the clinical capacity to treat co-occurring mental health conditions — including anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, personality disorders, and schizophrenia — as part of integrated dual-diagnosis care during addiction recovery.

No matter the underlying cause, people with addictions need comprehensive treatment tailored to their unique medical, psychological, and emotional needs. Sunlight Recovery offers this type of care in Boca Raton, Florida, and our dual diagnosis program supports people who need help with both substance use and a co-occurring mental health condition.

This guide explains what dual diagnosis means, how common co-occurring disorders are, and what dual diagnosis treatment looks like at Sunlight Recovery.

What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

The term “dual diagnosis” describes someone who has a substance use disorder and at least one co-occurring mental health condition. Those conditions can include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

Addiction and mental health issues are closely linked. In people with mental health disorders, a desire to regain control and suppress troubling symptoms may lead to drinking or drug use. In this case, the mental health condition develops first, and the addiction develops later.

Several mental health conditions are commonly linked with substance use disorders, including:

Some people start out with addictions and develop mental health disorders after years of drinking and drug use. This is because some drugs can change the structure and function of the brain, which can increase the risk of developing a mental health disorder. A few substances, such as LSD, have been linked to psychosis, a condition that causes an individual to lose touch with reality.

Whether the addiction or the mental health condition developed first, having both makes the situation more complex. That is why it is important to seek treatment from qualified professionals.

How Common Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Dual diagnoses are also known as “co-occurring disorders,” and they are common. According to SAMHSA’s 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 45.8% of the 46.3 million adults with a substance use disorder also had a mental illness — about 21.2 million adults living with both conditions.

Unfortunately, many people do not receive the care they need. Treatment gaps are wide: SAMHSA’s 2025 NSDUH found that roughly 1 in 6 people who needed substance use treatment in the past year actually received it.

Many people avoid treatment because they don’t realize they have a problem. Others have never heard the term dual diagnosis, so they have no idea help is available for what they are experiencing. Still others worry about the potential stigma of seeking treatment for addiction and mental health disorders, especially if they have high-pressure jobs or public-facing roles.

Even when people understand what dual diagnosis means and recognize that they need professional help, many are hesitant to reach out. They may worry about the cost of treatment, have trouble finding transportation, or struggle to fit treatment around their work or school schedules.

Why Integrated Treatment Matters

Treating dual diagnoses is more complex than treating a substance use disorder or a mental health condition on its own, because the two are closely linked. Treating one without addressing the other is often less effective. For people with co-occurring disorders, integrated treatment that addresses both conditions together is often recommended.

Integrated treatment is delivered by professionals with experience treating both substance use disorders and mental health conditions. These professionals understand how one condition can affect the other, so their treatment plans are tailored to each individual’s needs. Integrated treatment also reduces the confusion that can arise when someone seeks help from separate providers with different treatment approaches.

One of the main benefits of integrated treatment is that people with co-occurring disorders can get the services they need in one place. Integrated treatment also progresses through stages, with different services available based on where an individual is in their recovery.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment at Sunlight Recovery

Sunlight Recovery uses this integrated approach, building each person’s care plan around their physical and psychological needs. Our addiction treatment program is structured to address co-occurring mental health conditions alongside substance use, recognizing that the two often need to be treated together for lasting recovery.

Our dual diagnosis program is delivered in a safe, comfortable environment in Boca Raton. Our staff members have experience with both substance use disorders and mental health conditions, so they can conduct a thorough evaluation and develop an appropriate treatment plan for each person.

Initial Evaluation

The first step is an initial evaluation, which helps our team determine which services will benefit each person most. Psychologists and psychiatrists are available to identify signs of co-occurring mental health conditions and assess how they are likely to affect addiction treatment.

Personalized care starts with a full medical evaluation, which gives our treatment professionals the opportunity to learn about each individual’s medical and mental health history. We also ask about family history to understand whether a substance use disorder or mental health condition may have a genetic component. For people who need help withdrawing safely from alcohol or drugs, medical detox is available at our Boca Raton campus.

Your Treatment Plan

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, so every plan at Sunlight Recovery is customized. Depending on individual needs, a dual diagnosis treatment plan may include:

  • Individual therapy, including evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
  • Group therapy to practice coping skills and share experiences with peers.
  • Family therapy to support and strengthen relationships with loved ones.
  • Medication management, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) when clinically appropriate.
  • Meditation and experiential therapies.
  • Aftercare planning to support the transition out of structured care.

Some individuals are struggling more with their substance use than with their co-occurring mental health condition. For these people, counseling and therapy can begin during the detox process. For others, stabilizing mental health symptoms is an early priority within their addiction treatment plan. Every plan is based on the person’s unique needs and adjusted as treatment progresses.

“From the moment I entered your facility, I felt supported, respected, and genuinely cared for.”

— DeAngelo J., Google review

Dual Diagnosis Care Across Our Continuum

Dual diagnosis care continues through each level of treatment, so support for co-occurring conditions carries forward as care steps down.

Medical Detox

Boca Raton

24/7 medical supervision while withdrawal symptoms are safely managed.

Residential Treatment

Boca Raton

24-hour structured care with therapy and medical oversight.

Outpatient Treatment

Deerfield Beach

Structured therapy several days per week while living at home.

After outpatient care, many clients transition to sober living and stay connected through our alumni program.

Accredited, In-Network Care in South Florida

Sunlight Recovery is accredited by CARF International and The Joint Commission, licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), and a member of NAATP. Learn more about Sunlight Recovery and our more than a decade of addiction treatment in South Florida.

As an in-network provider, Sunlight Recovery works with many insurance plans. Find out how insurance coverage for rehab works before you reach out.

Call our 24/7 admissions line at (855) 625-6684. Every call is confidential, with no obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dual diagnosis treatment addresses substance use and a co-occurring mental health condition together through one integrated plan. At Sunlight Recovery, the same care team, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists, coordinates care for both rather than sending you to separate providers with different approaches.

Yes. Sunlight Recovery provides dual diagnosis care at our Boca Raton campus during medical detox and residential treatment, and it continues through outpatient treatment at our Deerfield Beach campus.

No. Sunlight Recovery is an addiction treatment center. We treat mental health conditions when they co-occur with substance use disorder. If you are seeking standalone mental health care without an addiction component, we encourage you to find a facility specialized in primary mental health treatment.

Many people begin with medical detox, which provides 24/7 medical supervision while withdrawal symptoms are managed. At Sunlight Recovery, detox takes place at our Boca Raton campus, and counseling and therapy for co-occurring conditions can begin during this stage.

Length of treatment varies depending on the individual. Your care team considers the severity of both conditions, your progress, and the level of care you need, and adjusts your plan as treatment moves from detox to residential to outpatient care.

Many insurance plans include coverage for substance use disorder treatment and co-occurring mental health conditions. As an in-network provider, Sunlight Recovery works with many plans. Call our 24/7 admissions line at (855) 625-6684 to find out what your plan covers. Every call is confidential, with no obligation.

Recovery From Dual Diagnoses

If you are struggling with a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health condition, help is available. At Sunlight Recovery, we offer personalized, integrated care to help people with co-occurring disorders improve their health and overall well-being. Call our 24/7 admissions line at (855) 625-6684. Every call is confidential, with no obligation.

Sunlight Recovery is not a primary mental health treatment facility. We treat mental health conditions when they co-occur with substance use disorder. If you are seeking standalone mental health care without an addiction component, we encourage you to find a facility specialized in primary mental health treatment.