Addiction is a complex medical disorder with biological, psychological, and social characteristics. In recent years, awareness of the high prevalence of substance addiction (drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs) and addictive behaviors (e.g., gambling) has been increasing among all segments of the population in Israel.
Often, addiction coexists with a psychiatric disorder (dual diagnosis). Such cases are associated with considerable suffering for the individual and their family, exacerbation of mental conditions, functional impairments, and sometimes even recurrent hospitalizations.
Our center offers multiple options for addiction treatment and therapy.
Departement “E” is a ward specialised in dual diagnosis. The department is designed for women and men who are dealing with mental disorders while actively using psychoactive substances (alcohol and drugs, including prescription drugs). The department is the first of its kind in the country to provide residential care for patients with dual diagnosis who are in an acute state. Admission is voluntary, and there is also an option for elective admission.
The department’s vision is to create a safe, enabling therapeutic environment for patients, where they can receive treatment for their mental distress alongside the process of physical detoxification and emotional coping with life after substance use.
Intervention focuses on stabilizing the patient’s mental state and providing tools for disease management, as well as recruiting patients who are in the “window of opportunity” (the early stages of recovery) to acquire skills that will assist in coping with the risk of substance use and support continued abstinence from drugs and alcohol.
Based on these foundations, from the moment of admission to the department, a personalized treatment plan is developed to meet the needs of the patient. The plan includes addressing the mental state (through medication and emotional support) and practical social-rehabilitative interventions. The goal is to create a safe and dignified space for our patients while providing personal well-being and increasing self-competence to fulfill the treatment process and rehabilitation potential. The department’s treatment spaces are both individual and group-based, in addition to recreational and enrichment activities. The treatment team maintains close contact with the patient’s family (with their consent) to provide updates on the patient’s condition and to establish a joint plan for recovery and preparation for discharge.
Within the department, there is a dedicated unit for treating women with dual diagnosis. Physical admission takes place within the department’s walls (alongside the male patients), but the women admitted receive a unique treatment plan led by a female-only team, experienced in treating this population, including awareness and addressing the typical treatment challenges (such as a history of trauma).
The department also provides acute withdrawal treatment, including medication for withdrawal relief (such as buprenorphine), close medical monitoring, and rapid referral to a general hospital when necessary.
The highly professional treatment team, led by the department manager (psychiatrists, specialized staff, social workers, occupational therapists, art/music therapists, addiction counselors, family support, and more), is skilled in treating patients with dual diagnosis and their unique challenges, providing the necessary care during their stay. The length of admission is tailored to the individual treatment plan, with an average stay of four weeks.
In Department “E”, a day treatment program is conducted for patients dealing with dual diagnosis. The program is suitable for both women and men, aged 18 and above, who are coping with mental disorders in combination with substance addiction.
The Rehabilitation Center for Addiction Treatment and Dual Diagnosis at the Lev Hasharon Mental Health Center provides an integrated, multi-system response to a variety of situations, phenomena, and problems characteristic of addiction and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
The treatment at the Rehabilitation Center for Addiction and Dual Diagnosis is based on several principles and objectives:
- Improving the mental state of the patient and reducing the harm caused by addiction.
- Providing a respectful, non-judgmental approach that fosters a collaborative atmosphere in treatment.
- Offering unique and individualized care tailored to each patient’s personal and unique needs.
- Full patient involvement in treatment goal-setting.
The treatment types are designed to complement each other, including:
- 1. Medical treatment
- 2. Individual therapy
- 3. Group therapy
- 4. Family therapy
What does medical treatment include?
The goals of medical treatment are to assist in quitting or significantly reducing substance use, preventing relapse, and addressing co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Medical treatment involves a staged approach and is provided by a psychiatrist specialized in addiction treatment and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. It may include various prescription drugs tailored to the patient’s needs and the specialist’s assessment.
What is individual therapy?
Individual therapy involves one-on-one counseling sessions conducted by a psychologist or a social worker using various therapeutic approaches, such as motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Individual therapy may also address specific co-occurring disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and more.
What group therapies are available?
The group therapy system in the Rehabilitation Center includes a variety of groups tailored to the patient’s current stage of treatment and the specific recommendations of the treatment team, as well as the patient’s preferences. The list of groups includes:
Cannabis group Women’s group Sex and porn group Dual Diagnosis group Significant Others group (family members) Motivation for Change group Sustainability and Development group
How does couples and family therapy work?
We recognize the importance of a systemic approach that addresses the immediate environment of the patient, often involving the patient’s spouse and family. As part of the comprehensive treatment, we offer couples and family therapy (in the presence of the patient), therapy for spouses, and counseling services for families in cases where family members who are suffering from addiction do not seek treatment themselves.
The intensive treatment provided by the Rehabilitation Center for Adolescents with Dual Diagnosis addresses the needs of young men and women who use addictive substances and experience emotional issues or psychiatric disorders as a result of their addiction. The unit’s treatment focuses on two central areas simultaneously: emotional/psychological disorders and substance use problems.
The unit’s team specializes in assessment and treatment services for adolescents with dual diagnosis and is composed of psychiatrists, nursing staff, social workers, psychologists, and expressive and creative therapists.
Adolescents aged 14 to 18 are referred to the unit for treatment by various professionals, including psychiatrists, family physicians, private therapists, social workers, the welfare department, school counselors, and more, for a comprehensive evaluation, including psychiatric and family assessments. Two initial assessment meetings are held to evaluate suitability for treatment in the unit, and a recommendation for the appropriate type of treatment is provided. The treatment is intensive and typically lasts up to six months in each cycle. Each patient’s treatment is individually tailored to their needs and may include individual therapy, group therapy, parent guidance, psychiatric follow-up, urine drug screening, and more. Upon completion of treatment, the adolescents are referred to appropriate ongoing treatment programs.