GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, Oct. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenhouse Treatment Center, a leading addiction treatment provider in Texas, has developed and implemented the PATH program, a specialized substance use and mental health treatment track designed for those with chronic mental illness. The PATH (personalized and therapeutic healing) program addresses specific mental health issues that may increase the possibility of relapse and equips patients with life and coping skills conducive to recovery.
Mental illness and substance use disorders are common co-occurring disorders. In 2018, more than 9 million adults in the U.S. experienced mental illness and a substance use disorder, and approximately half of those who have a severe mental illness self-medicate with substances. Because these two conditions often co-exist, Greenhouse Treatment Center developed the PATH program for patients that may require more in-depth mental health care.
“Mental health is closely related to relapse risk when it comes to the disease of addiction, and treatment for mental health conditions is just as important as treatment for substance use,” said Jonathan Smith, clinical director at Greenhouse Outpatient Center. “We saw the need for a program of this kind and we wanted to further extend the help we can provide to our patients.”
The PATH program is a two-system track; there is a general co-occurring track called the Navigators and a more intense track called the Pathfinders. Patients in the navigators track are typically medication-compliant individuals with managed conditions that may need assistance in understanding issues that can put them at risk for relapse.
The Pathfinders track is for more intense mental health conditions that can diminish the patient’s daily functionality. In this group, experienced licensed professionals uniquely address each person’s individual challenges with evidence-based modalities to adequately treat their mental health condition.
Patients in both tracks work very closely with counselors and clinicians on their particular needs. Patients will also learn skills such as feelings identification, how to build a support group, how to ask for help, how to seek local, personal and community supports, how to speak to providers and better understand the way in which they communicate.
“This program hasn’t been up and running for very long, but thus far, the response we’ve received is very encouraging,” said Smith. “By working with patients who have more mental health challenges in addition to substance use disorder, we’re assisting them in creating a foundation for effective treatment. We’re proud to do what we can to get our patients one step closer to a life in recovery.”
About Greenhouse Treatment Center
Greenhouse Treatment Center is a part of the American Addiction Centers (NYSE: AAC) family of treatment centers. AAC is a leading provider of inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment services. We treat patients who are struggling with drug addiction, alcohol addiction and co-occurring mental/behavioral health issues. We currently operate substance abuse treatment facilities located throughout the United States. These facilities are focused on delivering effective clinical care and treatment solutions. For more information, please find us at www.GreenhouseTreatment.com or follow us on Twitter.