Addiction

Addiction can affect multiple aspects of everyday life, including physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, and work. The team at Royal River Psychiatric Care in Yarmouth, Maine, provides personalized addiction and substance use treatment support. Care can address substance use alongside underlying or co-occurring mental health concerns, helping patients work toward greater stability and recovery. Contact Royal River Psychiatric Care by phone or request an appointment online to schedule an in-person or telehealth addiction evaluation today.

How can psychiatric care help with addiction?

Addiction is a health condition that involves having powerful cravings, difficulty controlling substance use, and continued use despite harmful consequences. It may involve alcohol, prescription medications, opioids, stimulants, or other substances.

The Royal River Psychiatric Care team can identify the factors that contribute to substance use and determine whether another mental health condition is also present. They provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and diagnostic assessments to build a clearer picture of each patient’s needs.

Treatment may explore areas such as:

• Substance use patterns and triggers
• Anxiety or depression
• Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar disorder or other mood concerns
• Sleep, stress, and lifestyle factors
• Medication use and possible interactions

Understanding the whole picture helps the Royal River Psychiatric Care team create a treatment plan that addresses more than substance use alone.

What are co-occurring disorders?

A co-occurring disorder means someone has both a substance use disorder and another mental health condition at the same time. For example, you may struggle with alcohol use alongside depression, or misuse drugs while also living with anxiety or PTSD.

These conditions influence each other. You may use substances to temporarily escape distressing emotions brought on by a psychiatric disorder, while ongoing substance use can make psychiatric symptoms harder to manage.

Treatment may include:

• Medication management
• Counseling
• Individual psychotherapy
• Lifestyle guidance

Medication may form part of treatment for some patients, particularly when psychiatric symptoms contribute to substance use or make recovery more difficult because of withdrawal symptoms.

Treatment decisions depend on the substance involved, the patient’s health, other medications, and any co-occurring psychiatric conditions. The team can also coordinate care with therapists, primary care providers, addiction specialists, or other professionals when appropriate.

What ongoing support is available during addiction recovery?

Addiction recovery typically requires continued support rather than a single appointment. Regular follow-up visits allow the team to monitor progress, review symptoms, discuss setbacks or new concerns, and adjust the treatment plan as needed.

Care may also include risk assessments, crisis intervention counseling, referrals to other specialists, and coordination with family members or other professionals when the patient gives consent.

Telepsychiatry appointments make ongoing care easier to access when attending the office isn’t convenient.

If substance use is affecting your health or daily life, contact Royal River Psychiatric Care to arrange an evaluation and discuss individualized addiction treatment support. Call the office or book an appointment online today.