In response to the opioid epidemic, Kettering Behavioral Medicine Center has expanded services to include treatment of patients who have both a mental illness and a substance abuse disorder.

“Historically, clinicians and programs have treated these ‘co-occurring disorders’ separately,” says Anita Adams-Jenkins, president of Sycamore Medical Center and Kettering Behavioral Medicine Center. “Treating the mental health disorder and substance abuse disorder together increases the likelihood the patient will have a successful outcome.”

Patients admitted to Kettering Behavioral Medicine Center’s new, 14-bed co-occurring inpatient unit would have a primary mental health illness with a secondary substance use disorder.

“We are excited to be able to provide this much-needed service in our community and assist patients in beginning and maintaining their recovery,” says Julie Manuel, MSEd, LPCC, LICDC, NCC, clinical program manager for Kettering Behavioral Medicine Center. “The co-occurring unit is patient centered—focusing on meeting the patient where they are in their recovery process.”

Manuel says following treatment in Kettering Behavioral Medicine Center’s inpatient co-occurring unit, the goal is to transition patients to the behavioral hospital’s next level of service—the co-occurring intensive outpatient program.