New Specialized Addiction Treatment Program for Patients With Co-Occurring Disorders Benefits College Students

NEW YORK , March 30, 2022   /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Recovery Centers of America (RCA), a healthcare network of substance use disorder treatment facilities on the East Coast and Midwest, is announcing its partnership with Mediaplanet's "College Health and Safety" campaign and the availability of its Balance program. Balance is a specialized treatment program tailored to individuals experiencing co-occurring primary substance use disorder (SUD) and secondary mental health diagnoses. RCA will offer the innovative program at additional locations in the coming months.

More than nine million Americans have received a dual diagnosis of SUD and one or more mental health diagnoses. Substance abuse and mental health among college students had been a concern prior to the pandemic, but these conditions have only gotten worse since then. Isolation, uncertainty, canceled events, strained relationships, and financial concerns, among other pandemic-related problems, have brought with it an increase in anxiety and depression and spikes in substance abuse.

By treating SUD and co-occurring mental health diagnoses together, patients can achieve optimal wellness as they embark on the path to sobriety. To address their needs, the Balance program uses dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), a therapeutic approach that aims to equip patients with healthy coping skills – mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and emotional regulation – to improve their mental health for better quality of life and overall well-being. There is no extra cost for RCA patients participating in the program.

"Patients with co-occurring diagnoses require an additional layer of care. Many times, we can't treat SUD without first addressing the patient's mental health diagnoses," said Trish Caldwell, RCA Senior Vice President of Clinical Programs. "Our team understands this connection between mental health and addiction. By following the Balance protocol, we can assess the dual-diagnosis patient at admission and start treating both diagnoses immediately using evidence-based methods."

In addition to psychiatric care and medication management, patients in the Balance program also receive holistic treatment focused on mental, physical and spiritual enrichment, including meditation and mindfulness, wellness and nutrition coaching, yoga, 12-step immersion and family involvement, as well as support therapy centered on art and music. They will also seamlessly transition to RCA outpatient programs for continued recovery support with hybrid options.

The Balance program's treatment continues for up to four weeks of inpatient care. For patients participating in either the digital or in-person outpatient programs or a hybrid, treatment episodes generally run about six months, with an option to recommit for an additional six months.

RCA at Devon, located In Devon, Pennsylvania, also offers evidence-based outpatient treatment for individuals suffering from mental health and/or eating disorders that do not suffer from SUD as well as for those who do have a co-occurring drug and alcohol addiction.

Upon completion of Balance or any other RCA program, patients will be considered a life member of the RCA Alumni Association, with continuous support, and an invitation to participate in social and educational programs to assist graduates on their recovery journey. Additionally, RCA alumni will participate in an online community through the new Shoutout™ app which offers connection, content, and support.

Balance is also be available at RCA Voorhees, NJ outpatient and starting in April, , Balance will be available at RCA locations in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Westminster, MA, and Raritan Bay, NJ.

About Recovery Centers of America
Recovery Centers of America is dedicated to helping patients achieve a life of recovery through evidence-based alcohol and drug addiction treatment. RCA has ten inpatient facilities in the United States in Earleville and Waldorf, Maryland, Danvers and Westminster, Massachusetts; Devon (near Philadelphia), and Monroeville (near Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania; South Amboy and Mays Landing, NJ; St. Charles, Illinois (outside of Chicago), and Indianapolis, Indiana. A full spectrum of outpatient treatment is also provided at most of these facilities and in Voorhees, NJ and South Elgin, IL. RCA also provides Medication-Assisted-Treatment (MAT) at its treatment centers and at standalone facilities in Trenton, Woodbridge, and Somerdale, NJ and in Lansdowne, PA. Patients can obtain immediate substance use disorder care by calling 1-800-Recovery with complimentary transportation provided in most cases.

Press Contact:
Lindsey Rose
[email protected]

Media Contact

Lindsey Rose, Recovery Centers of America, 352.682.3838, [email protected]

SOURCE Recovery Centers of America