La Amistad also has many residents who have a “dual diagnosis,” meaning they have psychiatric and chemical-related needs that are co-occurring. La Amistad is uniquely equipped to treat individuals who have been given a dual diagnosis. We employ the use of individual psychotherapy, family therapy, process groups, education groups, peer-led groups, use of outside self-help meetings and full-time Certified Addiction Professionals (C.A.P.). The combined effort of stabilizing mood (depression, low-self esteem and trauma) and/or thought disorders that underlie addiction issues creates an improved circumstance for sobriety and healthy living.

One of the most important aspects to healthy living through sobriety is structure and boundaries. To that end, La Amistad has created the following outline for residents who have a dual diagnosis to follow during the course of treatment:

Participation: All individuals in the Co-Occurring Program are expected to participate in the daily groups assigned to them related to their needs. La Amistad advocates the use of outside self-help meetings (Alcoholic Anonymous, Narcotic Anonymous, Gambler Anonymous) as a way of building healthy habits for structure and treatment. Participation in scheduled self-help meetings is considered mandatory and vital to the ongoing needs of our residents.

Accountability: Due to residents being at different stages in their recovery efforts, it is necessary to exercise caution related to substances being consumed or brought into the facility. Residents could be subject to random and/or scheduled searches (belongings and self) associated with leaving the campus and returning. Additionally, random room searches at La Amistad are conducted throughout each month with the participation of the resident during the search. In the rare event that a substance is brought into the facility by a resident, the resident involved will be evaluated by the treatment team, who will determine the use of law enforcement and the resident’s subsequent discharge.

Addictive Medication: For individuals in the Co-Occurring Program, alternatives to the use of highly addictive medications are preferred. The medical staff at La Amistad is skilled at educating and employing medications that can treat symptoms without addictive qualities. However, in some cases the Medical Team may prescribe Suboxone (taper only), and Revia, Naltraxone, or Vivitrol for relapse prevention.