Treatment For Depression and Addiction in Massachusetts

Dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorders, refers to a situation in which a person suffers from a substance use disorder as well as a mental health disorder. Depression is one of the most common types of co-occurring disorders. A person with a substance use disorder may use drugs or alcohol as a way to manage depression symptoms. In other people, substance use can create depression symptoms.

Many people struggle with co-occurring disorders. In 2021, 46.3 million people over the age of 12 in the US suffered from a substance use disorder. Among them, 13.5% had co-occurring disorders, as noted by the US Department of Health and Human Services.[1]

If you are struggling with depression and a substance use disorder, seek help from Engage Wellness Acton immediately.

Does Depression Cause Addiction and Vice Versa?

Depression and addiction frequently interact in complex ways, each condition potentially triggering or worsening the other.[2] Depression changes brain chemistry, particularly affecting dopamine and serotonin levels, which can create vulnerability to substance use problems.

When someone experiences depression, their brain’s natural reward system becomes disrupted, often leading them to seek relief through alcohol or drugs. This pattern of self-medication provides temporary escape but typically worsens depression symptoms over time.

The relationship also works in reverse. Substance use alters brain chemistry and can trigger depressive episodes.[3] Chronic substance use disrupts natural mood regulation, leading to persistent depression even after stopping use. Both conditions share common biological and environmental triggers, including trauma history, genetic predisposition, and chronic stress. This overlap makes it particularly challenging to determine which condition developed first.

Recovery becomes more achievable when both conditions receive proper attention and treatment. Mental health and addiction professionals create comprehensive treatment plans that target symptoms of both depression and addiction while helping develop healthy coping strategies.

The Signs and Symptoms of Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Depression

Depression and addiction often share overlapping symptoms, making diagnosis and treatment more complex. When these conditions occur together, certain signs become more prominent and may indicate the presence of both conditions:[4]

• Mood changes: Persistent sadness or emptiness that becomes worse during or after substance use, paired with noticeable mood swings.
• Social withdrawal: Pulling away from friends and family, missing important events, and choosing substance use over social connections.
• Changes in daily function: Difficulty maintaining work or school responsibilities, neglecting personal hygiene, and struggling with basic daily tasks.
• Physical symptoms: Sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, unexplained physical pain, and visible signs of substance use.
• Behavioral shifts: Engaging in risky behaviors, hiding substance use, lying about depression symptoms, and avoiding previously enjoyed activities.
• Cognitive impacts: Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and slowed thinking that worsen with substance use.
• Treatment resistance: Reluctance to seek help for either condition, often minimizing symptoms while increasing substance use.
• Financial difficulties: Money problems from both funding substance use and depression-related inability to maintain work performance.
• Suicidal thoughts: Increased risk of suicidal ideation, especially during periods of heavy substance use or withdrawal.

How Is Dual Diagnosis Diagnosed in Those With Depression?

Everyone feels sad sometimes. Those who feel sad often, and especially when they may not have a reason to feel like that, could be suffering from a hormonal imbalance that could contribute to health complications and the onset of substance use disorders.

To diagnose this co-occurring disorder, a full evaluation is necessary. This evaluation will consider substance use habits as well as the actual symptoms of depression a person has.

Diagnosis of depression and substance use disorder may include:

• A full examination by a medical provider and therapist
• Questions about substance use and frequency
• Analysis of thought patterns and behaviors that are out of the norm
• Blood work to help address underlying depression
• The presence of withdrawal symptoms when a person stops using the substance

A conversation with you, your family, and your medical team can help to pinpoint the likelihood of dual diagnosis. However, there is no way to rule out the possibility of a mental health disorder until a person has gone through the detoxification process when necessary.

With the onset of mental health treatment (including depression and addiction treatment at the same time), it is possible for a person to navigate long-term recovery.

Treatment of Depression and Addiction Through Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Mental health treatment for depression and a substance use disorder must be done at the same time to be beneficial to that person. Treating one component of co-occurring disorders without also treating the other could put a person at a higher risk of relapse.

Depression and addiction treatment is typically a multi-step process. It may include the following:

Detoxification

To start mental health treatment when you have a co-occurring disorder, it is critical to remove the toxins from your body that may be causing your cravings. Detox is a process that involves medical monitoring to rid the body of the substance and enable the brain and body to begin to work through the dependency.

As a first step in the treatment of substance use disorders, detox can involve spending several days in a treatment center. Medications and medical care may be available to help you through these initial days.

Inpatient Mental Health Treatment

A person with a dual diagnosis will need a wide range of treatment methods to help them recover from both mental health and substance use disorders. At Engage Wellness, we offer an individualized treatment plan to address the specific risk factors you are facing. This treatment may include the following:

• Medication-Assisted Treatment: MAT is a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses the chemical imbalances that are occurring. With it, you may feel fewer side effects and cravings as your body re-learns how to work without the substance.
• Depression Medications: Also, at this time, your therapist may recommend the use of medications like antidepressants to help improve the underlying symptoms of mental health. Depression medications help to improve chemical imbalances and foster clarity for those with symptoms (and can also be helpful in dual diagnosis care for drug abuse).
• Behavioral Therapy Treatment: The next step in treatment is typically to focus on learning how to correct inaccurate and negative thinking that can often put a person on the path to relapse. This can be done through a range of behavioral therapy programs, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.
• Group Therapy: While many people work with their therapists for behavioral therapy, another component of mental health treatment is the use of group therapy or peer-supported groups. This is a process of learning about your addiction, the symptoms you have, tactics for learning how to navigate stress, and much more.

Ongoing Care

Most people experiencing the need for a dual diagnosis treatment program will need ongoing care. This can be done through various stepped-down treatment programs. Ongoing therapy helps to build confidence when real-world triggers and complications arise. Depression and addiction treatment is an ongoing process for most people, though you’ll need less intensive care over time.

The Benefits of Dual Diagnosis Treatment

As you navigate the next steps in seeking depression and addiction treatment, consider the benefits that may come from it:

• Mental and physical health improvement
• Improved mental clarity and decision-making
• Better ability to maintain education and career goals
• Improved relationships with family and friends
• Better quality of life

Additional Treatment Modalities For Depression and Addiction

Recovery from co-occurring depression and addiction requires a comprehensive treatment approach that addresses both conditions simultaneously. Various therapeutic options provide different paths to healing and long-term recovery.

• Holistic therapy: Natural healing methods help reduce depressive symptoms while supporting addiction recovery through stress management and emotional regulation.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing / EMDR: This specialized approach addresses underlying trauma that often connects depression and addiction, helping process difficult memories while developing new coping strategies.
• CBT for depression: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy teaches practical skills for managing negative thought patterns that fuel both depression and substance use, creating healthier ways of thinking.
• DBT for depression: Dialectical Behavior Therapy combines acceptance and change strategies to help regulate emotions, improve relationships, and develop better coping mechanisms.
• Group therapy: Peer support groups provide opportunities to connect with others experiencing similar challenges while learning and practicing new coping skills together.
• Relapse prevention: Structured planning helps identify and manage triggers for both conditions, reducing the risk of returning to substance use or experiencing depressive episodes.
• Family program participation: Family therapy helps heal relationships damaged by both conditions while building stronger support systems for recovery.
• 12-step programming: Modified twelve-step approaches address both addiction recovery and depression management through peer support and spiritual growth.
• Motivational Interviewing: This collaborative method helps strengthen commitment to recovery while addressing depression-related ambivalence about change.

Dual Diagnosis Program to Treat Depression and Addiction

Our substance use and mental health treatment program at Engage Wellness is an individualized treatment program designed to provide you with the one-on-one care you need. Our program incorporates group therapy, MAT care, substance use education, and support for all forms of depression. When you are struggling, let our team help you to build a better, more long-term solution.

Contact Engage Wellness Acton for Immediate Help

At Engage Wellness Acton, our team of highly skilled professionals specializing in mental health and substance use disorders is available to help you. We treat depression and addiction using the most innovative and effective strategies available. It can change your future. Contact us now to speak to an admissions counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions About Depression and Substance Abuse