Outpatient Dual Diagnosis & Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment in Southwest Florida

A co-occurring disorder — also called dual diagnosis — means a person has both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder at the same time. The two conditions interact: untreated mental illness often drives substance use, and substance use frequently worsens mental health. Integrated treatment — addressing both at once — has better outcomes than treating either condition alone.

Inpatient treatment means living at a facility 24/7 for weeks to months. Outpatient treatment means attending structured therapy for a set number of hours each week and going home at the end of the day. Outpatient works well for many people, especially when home life is stable and medical withdrawal isn’t a concern. DMHBH offers outpatient treatment (standard outpatient + IOP) — we do not offer inpatient or residential care.

Outpatient is often right when you have stable housing, a reasonably supportive home environment, and don’t need 24-hour medical supervision for withdrawal. Call us — we’ll talk through your situation honestly and tell you if outpatient is a fit. If not, we’ll help you find the right level of care first.

We treat alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder (including fentanyl and heroin), benzodiazepine dependence (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium), prescription stimulant misuse (Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse), and other prescription drug patterns — each alongside the mental health conditions that frequently co-occur.

You can self-refer. Many people contact us directly. If you have a referring provider, we coordinate with them. Either way, start by calling one of our locations.

Most people begin in our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for 8–12 weeks and then step down to standard outpatient therapy for several months. Some continue with ongoing therapy beyond that. Treatment length is individualized.

Yes. For opioid use disorder, we offer FDA-approved Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) and Vivitrol (naltrexone) in-office — no separate clinic visit required. For alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other substances, we coordinate medications with prescribing providers as part of a full plan.

We accept a wide variety of insurance plans, including Medicare, commercial, and HMO plans. Visit our insurance information page for details, or call us — we’ll help verify your coverage before your first visit.

Our co-occurring program is for adults (18+). If you’re seeking care for an adolescent, please call us and we can point you toward appropriate resources in the region.

Your first visit is an intake evaluation. We’ll talk about your substance use, your mental health, your medical history, your goals, and your current situation. By the end, we’ll build a preliminary plan with you and schedule your next step. No commitments beyond the first visit.

Yes. Our two locations serve Charlotte, DeSoto, Sarasota, and Lee counties — all of Southwest Florida. Many patients drive in from nearby communities.

Three things: (1) we’re part of a non-profit community hospital, not a for-profit chain — our focus is care, not referrals to higher-revenue services; (2) medical oversight is built in, with coordination across the hospital system when needed; (3) our clinicians are accountable to hospital-level clinical standards.