Addiction Treatment — Northbound Treatment Services
Eating Disorder & Addiction Treatment
Eating disorders and substance use disorders co-occur at rates far higher than most people realize — sharing underlying patterns of shame, control, and emotional dysregulation. Northbound's integrated dual diagnosis program addresses both with the clinical depth and compassion that full recovery demands.
Free Confidential Consultation
Ready to take the first step?
Our admissions team is available around the clock — no cost, no obligation, no judgment.
(866) 311-0003Understanding the Disease
What Is the Connection Between Eating Disorders and Addiction?
Eating disorders — including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and ARFID — are serious, potentially life-threatening mental health conditions characterized by a persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and intense preoccupation with body image, weight, and food. They are not lifestyle choices; they are recognized medical illnesses with strong neurobiological and psychological components.
The co-occurrence of eating disorders and substance use disorders is striking: research suggests 25–35% of individuals with alcohol or substance use disorders also have an eating disorder — and the reverse is also true. Common underlying factors include difficulty regulating emotions, perfectionism and control, trauma history, low self-worth, and an all-or-nothing cognitive style. Substances often function to suppress appetite, manage eating disorder guilt or shame, or numb the emotional pain the eating disorder creates.
Effective treatment must address both conditions simultaneously. Treating addiction while leaving an active eating disorder unaddressed — or vice versa — reliably produces incomplete recovery and high relapse rates in both areas. Northbound's dual diagnosis clinical team has the expertise to hold both conditions at once.
Free Consultation
(866) 311-000330M+
Americans affected by eating disorders
25–35%
Of those in SUD treatment also have an eating disorder
>97%
Drug abstinence rate in Northbound's USC outcomes study
Recognizing the Problem
Signs of Eating Disorders Addiction
Eating disorders often coexist silently with addiction. These are the warning signs that both conditions may be present and interacting.
The Path to Recovery
What Eating Disorder & Addiction Recovery Looks Like at Northbound
Integrated treatment for eating disorders and addiction requires specialized expertise in both conditions — addressing the emotional, behavioral, and neurological patterns that drive each. Northbound's dual diagnosis model delivers exactly this.
Week 1
Comprehensive Dual Diagnosis Assessment
Every client receives a thorough biopsychosocial evaluation that explicitly screens for eating disorder patterns alongside substance use history. Our psychiatrists and clinical team develop an individualized treatment plan that holds both conditions from day one.
Week 1–2
Medical Stabilization
Both eating disorders and substance use can cause serious medical complications — electrolyte imbalances, cardiac arrhythmias, and nutritional deficiencies. Northbound's medical team ensures physical stability before deeper therapeutic work begins.
Weeks 2–12+
Residential Integrated Treatment
Residential programming integrates evidence-based eating disorder interventions — CBT for eating disorders, DBT, nutritional counseling — with addiction recovery. Individual therapy, group sessions, and family work address both conditions within the same structured environment.
Month 2–4
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
PHP provides 5 days per week of intensive programming that continues to address both eating behaviors and addiction recovery simultaneously. Real-world meal practices and trigger management are built into this phase of care.
Ongoing
Aftercare & Nutritional Recovery
Eating disorder recovery is often a long-term process that continues well beyond residential care. Northbound's aftercare plan includes referrals to specialized eating disorder providers, continued psychiatric monitoring, and alumni community support.
Why Choose Northbound
Treatment That Goes Further
Dual Diagnosis Expertise
Northbound's clinical team treats co-occurring eating disorders and addiction within a single, integrated program — not sequentially, and not as separate treatment tracks.
Nutritional Support Integration
Recovery from an eating disorder requires rebuilding a healthy relationship with food. Northbound integrates nutritional support and counseling into the treatment program alongside addiction and mental health care.
Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma — particularly childhood abuse, sexual assault, and emotional neglect — is extremely common in both eating disorders and addiction. Northbound's trauma-informed approach addresses these roots.
Medical Monitoring
Both eating disorders and substance use can cause serious physical complications. Northbound's on-site medical team provides continuous monitoring throughout treatment — particularly for clients recovering from restrictive eating or purging behaviors.
Gender-Responsive Care
Eating disorders disproportionately — but not exclusively — affect women. Northbound's residential program offers gender-specific clinical tracks that create the psychological safety needed for authentic healing.
Family Therapy
Family dynamics often play a significant role in both eating disorders and addiction. Northbound's family therapy program addresses relational patterns, enabling behaviors, and communication skills essential to lasting recovery.
Recovery Is Possible
Both Conditions Deserve Treatment — Together.
An eating disorder and an addiction can feel like two separate battles — but they are almost always fighting the same underlying war. Treating them together isn't just more efficient; it's the only approach that produces complete, sustainable recovery.
Northbound's admissions team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — at no cost and no obligation. If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder alongside substance use, we are ready to help navigate what integrated treatment looks like.
“Recovery from both isn't just possible — it's what we're built for. One integrated treatment plan. One team. One path to healing.”
— Northbound Treatment Services
Common Questions
Frequently
Asked
Have a question that's not here? Our admissions team answers every question — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(866) 311-0003Yes — Northbound's dual diagnosis program is specifically designed to address co-occurring conditions simultaneously. Our clinical team has experience treating the intersection of eating disorders and substance use disorders within a single integrated treatment plan.
Don't Let Cost Be a Barrier
We Work With 15+ Major Insurance Plans
Northbound is in-network with Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Tricare, and more. Our team verifies your benefits and explains your coverage — at no cost to you.
Other Addictions We Treat