Addiction Treatment — Northbound Treatment Services
Bipolar Disorder & Addiction Treatment
The dramatic swings between mania and depression make bipolar disorder uniquely challenging — and uniquely prone to co-occurring addiction. Northbound specializes in treating both, simultaneously, with the clinical precision this dual diagnosis demands.
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(866) 311-0003Understanding the Disease
Understanding Bipolar Disorder and Its Connection to Addiction
Bipolar disorder is characterized by cyclical episodes of mania (elevated mood, impulsivity, grandiosity, reduced need for sleep) and depression (profound sadness, fatigue, hopelessness, loss of motivation). These cycles can last days, weeks, or months — and their unpredictability makes everyday life feel impossible to manage.
The connection between bipolar disorder and substance use disorder is well-documented. Many individuals with bipolar disorder turn to alcohol or drugs to moderate their symptoms: stimulants to lift depression, alcohol or cannabis to calm mania. Over time, these self-medicating behaviors compound the disorder, destabilize mood even further, and create a co-occurring addiction that requires integrated dual diagnosis treatment.
At Northbound, we never label clients — we treat people. Our clinical team focuses on stabilizing mood, building psychological tools for managing the disorder, and addressing any substance use simultaneously. Treatment doesn't require an official diagnosis to begin; what matters is that the person gets help.
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(866) 311-000330%
Of people with bipolar disorder have a co-occurring substance use disorder
200+
Years of combined clinical expertise at Northbound
>95%
Alcohol abstinence rate in Northbound's USC outcomes study
Recognizing the Problem
Signs of Bipolar Disorder Addiction
Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed or missed entirely when substance use is present. These signs — in yourself or someone you love — point to a need for professional dual diagnosis evaluation.
The Path to Recovery
What Bipolar Disorder & Addiction Recovery Looks Like at Northbound
Stabilizing bipolar disorder and addressing addiction requires a carefully sequenced, individualized approach. Northbound's dual diagnosis program provides the clinical foundation for lasting recovery across the full continuum of care.
Week 1–2
Comprehensive Dual Diagnosis Evaluation
Our clinical team conducts a thorough biopsychosocial assessment to understand mood history, substance use patterns, trauma, and prior treatment. This informs every aspect of the individualized treatment plan.
Week 1–3
Stabilization & Medically Supervised Detox
When substance use is present, safe medically supervised detox is the first clinical priority. Simultaneously, psychiatric stabilization — sometimes including mood-stabilizing medication — begins under the direction of our board-certified psychiatrists.
Weeks 3–12+
Residential Treatment with Mood Disorder Focus
Residential programming integrates individual therapy, group sessions, psychoeducation about bipolar disorder, family programming, and evidence-based modalities including CBT and DBT — with the clinical space to explore and build coping skills without substance use.
Months 2–4
Partial Hospitalization & Intensive Outpatient
PHP and IOP provide the structure needed as clients return to daily life — regular therapy, group support, and medication management continue as clients practice managing mood in real-world environments.
Ongoing
Aftercare & Lifelong Alumni Support
Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition that benefits from long-term support. Northbound's alumni program and aftercare resources provide continued connection, relapse prevention, and community — as long as it's needed.
Why Choose Northbound
Treatment That Goes Further
Dual Board-Certified Psychiatric Care
Our Medical Director is double board-certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine — providing psychiatric sophistication that most treatment programs cannot match.
Mood Stabilization Without Over-Medicalizing
We use medication when it's clinically necessary, and taper thoughtfully as therapy progresses. Our philosophy is to minimize reliance on medication wherever it's safely possible.
Family Education & Support Program
Bipolar disorder significantly affects families. Northbound's monthly family program helps loved ones understand the disorder, set healthy limits, and support recovery without enabling.
Evidence-Based Therapeutic Modalities
CBT, DBT, and psychoeducation are proven to reduce the severity and frequency of bipolar episodes — especially when combined with sobriety from substances that destabilize mood.
38 Years of Continuous Operation
Founded in 1988, Northbound has treated complex dual diagnoses for nearly four decades. Our longevity reflects clinical credibility that newer programs simply cannot offer.
1/3 of Staff Are Program Alumni
One-third of Northbound's clinical team are graduates of our own programs — bringing lived experience and genuine empathy to every interaction with clients.
Recovery Is Possible
Stability Is Possible. Recovery Is Real.
Bipolar disorder is complex, but it is treatable. With the right combination of clinical care, evidence-based therapy, and community support, thousands of people have achieved lasting stability and sobriety at Northbound. Your recovery story is waiting to be written.
“Our goal is never to label our clients — it's to help them find tools that work, so mood no longer controls every aspect of their lives.”
— Northbound Treatment Services
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(866) 311-0003Other Addictions We Treat