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Lifetime substance use disorder rates reach at least 40 percent among people with bipolar I disorder, against about 17 percent in the general population, and.
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Lifetime substance use disorder rates reach at least 40 percent among people with bipolar I disorder, against about 17 percent in the general population, and.
Lifetime substance use disorder rates reach at least 40 percent among people with bipolar I disorder, compared with about 17 percent in the general population, according to a published review of US survey data. That same review links the combination to more frequent and prolonged mood episodes, lower adherence to treatment, and more suicidal behavior, and a British Journal of Psychiatry editorial adds more severe manic episodes to that list. At Faith Recovery Center, a physician-led dual diagnosis program in Beverly Hills, we treat bipolar disorder addiction as one clinical picture under one plan, because treating half of it rarely holds.
If you or someone you love is in crisis right now, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder marked by episodes of abnormally elevated energy and mood, called mania or hypomania, that alternate with periods of depression. These episodes last days to weeks, which separates them from the ordinary mood shifts most people move through within a single afternoon. Clinicians recognize three main types, and our psychiatrist, Dr. Julio Meza, confirms which one applies only after a full psychiatric assessment.
Bipolar I involves at least one full manic episode, which can include psychosis and often requires hospitalization. Bipolar II involves hypomanic episodes, which are milder and shorter, along with major depressive episodes that tend to run long and heavy. Cyclothymic disorder involves years of lower-grade highs and lows that never reach full episode criteria.
During manic or hypomanic episodes, the most common symptoms are a reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, rapid speech, inflated confidence, and impulsive spending, sex, or risk-taking. Depressive episodes bring low mood, exhaustion, loss of interest, trouble concentrating, and sometimes thoughts of death. The National Institute of Mental Health publishes a full symptom overview, though only a clinician can make the diagnosis.
In a nationally representative US sample of 43,093 respondents, people with bipolar I disorder showed a 58 percent lifetime prevalence of alcohol use disorder and a 38 percent lifetime prevalence of any drug use disorder, according to the same review. Other estimates land near 60 percent for any substance use disorder across a lifetime. The figures vary because some studies count anyone who has ever met criteria while others count only current problems, and because rates run higher in bipolar I than in bipolar II. A person carrying both conditions has a dual diagnosis, the clinical term for a mental health condition and a substance use disorder occurring together. Because the overlap is this common, psychiatric assessment at our Beverly Hills program begins on the day a client arrives.
Self-medication usually follows the symptom. Someone in a depressive stretch may drink to feel anything other than numbness, while someone who has not slept in three days may reach for alcohol, benzodiazepines, or sleeping pills to come down. The Mental Health America screening site notes that someone with bipolar disorder may use sleeping pills to deal with the lack of sleep often associated with it, and one psychiatrist says sleep is the most common reason heard in clinic. Others use stimulants during depression to get out of bed, or chase the lift of hypomania with cocaine, two patterns the International Bipolar Foundation describes in detail. The relief is real for an hour, and it makes sense that people seek it.
That relief costs more over time. Alcohol disrupts sleep and raises impulsivity, and sleep loss is one of the most reliable triggers for mania. Withdrawal days deepen depression, so the cycle speeds up and each episode gets harder to separate from the substance use around it.
There is no evidence that substance use directly causes bipolar disorder, but it can trigger or worsen episodes in people already predisposed, and it can produce look-alike states. Stimulant intoxication can mimic mania closely enough to cause misdiagnosis, and heavy drinking can mimic major depression. Clinicians call these substance-induced mood disorders, and they often clear within weeks of abstinence, which is why we let assessment take time rather than rushing a label.
Alcohol and cannabis are the substances most often involved, followed by cocaine and then opioids, though no substance is harmless for someone managing mood episodes. Alcohol is a depressant that deepens low periods, interrupts sleep, and increases impulsivity, and in a person whose symptoms are otherwise controlled it can set off a serious depressive episode. It can also change how the body handles mood medications such as lithium, so anyone on a mood stabilizer should speak with their prescriber before drinking at all. Board-certified physician Dr. Jason Giles, who oversees our detox and medical protocols, reviews these interactions for each client.
Cannabis is often described as calming, yet regular use during active bipolar disorder muddies the diagnostic picture and can feed manic symptoms. Cocaine, methamphetamine, and misused prescription stimulants can trigger manic symptoms even in people stabilized on mood medication, and the crash afterward can bring severe depression. Across all of these, substance use interferes with prescribed medications, partly because intoxication and hangovers lead to missed doses, and partly because people who are using are more likely to stop their medication altogether.
Our psychiatric team looks at timing first. Symptoms that appeared before any substance use, or that persist after several weeks of abstinence, point toward an independent mood disorder, while symptoms that show up only during intoxication or withdrawal and fade quickly afterward point toward a substance effect.
Family history, previous episodes during sober periods, and the pattern of symptoms all add weight. For example, a week of little sleep and grand plans that began during heavy cocaine use reads very differently from the same week during six months of sobriety. This is one reason we observe clients through medical detox and early residential care before finalizing a diagnosis, rather than labeling someone on day one.
Integrated treatment means one team treats both conditions at the same time under one plan, and clinicians who work this way report the best outcomes when the same team handles both disorders. A review of co-occurring care describes concurrent treatment as superior to treating each disorder on its own. The older models treated them separately, with an addiction program and a psychiatrist who rarely spoke, or sequentially, with sobriety demanded before mental health care started. Current practice has moved away from requiring zero use before treating the mood disorder. Both older approaches leave gaps, since untreated depression drives a return to use and ongoing drinking undermines psychiatric medications. At Faith Recovery Center, that one team includes a physician and a psychiatrist working in a single Beverly Hills residence with 24/7 medical and clinical support.
Medication management for bipolar disorder often involves mood stabilizers and sometimes antipsychotics, chosen and adjusted by a prescriber. Dr. Jason Giles oversees detox and medical protocols, while Dr. Julio Meza, who specializes in co-occurring disorders, leads psychiatric care. Medication-Assisted Treatment is available when clinically indicated, such as for opioid use disorder, and it is coordinated with psychiatric medications so the two do not work against each other.
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Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you spot the thoughts and early warning signs that precede both cravings and mood shifts, and dialectical behavior therapy teaches emotion regulation and distress tolerance, skills that replace the impulse to use during an intense high or low (Ridge Behavioral Health). Group work that addresses mood and substance use in the same session, an approach known in the research as integrated group therapy, helps people see how the two feed each other. We add EMDR for trauma, family therapy, and relapse prevention planning, with yoga, mindfulness, and nutrition supporting the routine and steady sleep that mood stability depends on.
Residential care fits best when someone has had recent manic or psychotic episodes, needs medical detox, or lacks a stable sober home. Outpatient care, through PHP or IOP, fits people who are medically stable and have support at home, or who are stepping down after residential. Our Beverly Hills estate offers the full continuum under one roof, so clients can move from detox to residential to outpatient without changing clinical teams.
We admit a maximum of 8 patients at a time, which means our clinicians know each person's medication history, sleep patterns, and early warning signs by name. Psychiatric assessment begins on arrival, and 24/7 medical and clinical support continues through detox and residential stays. Detox often takes about 5 to 10 days, and residential care typically runs 30 to 90 days, both adjusted to clinical need.
Clients stay in private suites in a single residence in the hills above Beverly Hills, with chef-prepared meals, gardens, and a pool. We are accredited by The Joint Commission, licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services, and LegitScript certified. The name refers to hope and renewal rather than a denomination, so spiritual practice is welcome only if you want it and all treatment stays clinical.
Six questions sort strong dual diagnosis programs from weak ones fairly quickly. Ask whether a psychiatrist sits on the treatment team itself or whether the program relies on outside referrals. Ask how the medical and psychiatric staff coordinate detox with existing mood medications, and how long the team observes before confirming a bipolar diagnosis. Ask which therapies address mood and substance use in the same session. Then request specifics on what discharge and aftercare planning include, and confirm the facility will verify your insurance before admission.
Recovery from both conditions depends on routine more than willpower. A consistent sleep schedule, medications taken at the same time daily, and a simple mood log give you and your prescriber early notice before an episode builds. Our Beverly Hills team builds these habits during residential care so they feel familiar before you return home. Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, and peer groups for mood disorders add accountability between appointments.
Loved ones often notice the first signs of an episode, such as late-night energy or withdrawal from contact, before the person does. Agree in advance on what those signs are and what you will do together when they appear. Family visitation at Faith Recovery Center typically begins after initial stabilization, and family therapy helps everyone learn the same language for warning signs. You can also call our admissions team on a loved one's behalf.
Yes, many people reach lasting stability with integrated treatment, consistent medication, and ongoing support. Recovery usually means managing both conditions over time, and a return to use tells the team the plan needs adjusting.
Yes, and the increase is measurable. In one published review, a history of a drug use disorder roughly doubled the risk of a lifetime suicide attempt among people with bipolar disorder, and the risk runs highest during depressive or mixed episodes and withdrawal. If thoughts of suicide are present, call or text 988 immediately. Treating both conditions together directly addresses this risk.
Medical detox for someone with bipolar disorder manages withdrawal while closely monitoring mood, sleep, and psychiatric medications. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can be dangerous and should not be attempted alone. At our facility, psychiatric assessment runs alongside detox from the first day.
Most research finds substance use disorders, including alcohol use disorder, somewhat more common in bipolar I, though rates are high in both types. Anyone with either type who drinks heavily benefits from an assessment.
Many private PPO plans cover addiction and co-occurring mental health treatment, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. We verify your benefits for free and confidentially before you commit to anything.
Many clients arrive within 24 to 48 hours of their first call, and the call itself carries no obligation. Our admissions team answers 24/7 at (844) 598-5573, and the contact page works if you would rather write first. Either way, the next step is a confidential assessment and free insurance verification.
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