Addiction Treatment — Northbound Treatment Services
PTSD & Addiction Treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the most powerful drivers of substance use — and one of the most underdiagnosed. At Northbound, our trauma-informed, dual diagnosis program treats PTSD and addiction together, because healing one without the other simply doesn't work.
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(866) 311-0003Understanding the Disease
What Is PTSD — and How Does It Connect to Addiction?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after exposure to traumatic events — combat, physical or sexual abuse, accidents, natural disasters, or witnessing violence. It is characterized by four core symptom clusters: intrusive re-experiencing (flashbacks, nightmares), avoidance, negative alterations in mood and cognition, and hyperarousal. PTSD affects approximately 20 million Americans at any given time.
The relationship between PTSD and substance use disorder is profound and bidirectional. Research consistently shows that 30–60% of people seeking treatment for substance use disorders meet criteria for PTSD — and that substances are frequently used as a form of self-medication to manage intrusive symptoms, emotional numbing, hypervigilance, and insomnia. Over time, the substances that once provided relief become their own problem.
Treating addiction without addressing PTSD leaves the root cause intact — and vice versa. When trauma symptoms are unmanaged, the pull to self-medicate is overwhelming. Northbound's integrated dual diagnosis model treats both simultaneously, using trauma-informed therapy approaches including EMDR, trauma-focused CBT, and somatic interventions.
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(866) 311-000320M+
Americans living with PTSD
30–60%
Of substance use disorder clients also have PTSD
>97%
Drug abstinence rate in Northbound's USC outcomes study
Recognizing the Problem
Signs of PTSD Addiction
PTSD often goes unrecognized — especially when substances are being used to manage symptoms. These are the warning signs that trauma and substance use may be co-occurring.
The Path to Recovery
What PTSD & Addiction Recovery Looks Like at Northbound
Integrated dual diagnosis treatment for PTSD and addiction requires both trauma-informed clinical expertise and the full continuum of addiction care. Northbound delivers both — from medical stabilization through long-term trauma recovery.
Week 1
Trauma-Informed Assessment
Every client receives a comprehensive trauma-informed biopsychosocial evaluation. Our clinical team assesses trauma history, PTSD symptom severity, substance use patterns, and co-occurring conditions to build an individualized treatment plan.
Week 1–2
Medical Detox & Stabilization
When substance use requires medical detox, Northbound's one-eighty program provides 24/7 physician oversight. The detox process is designed to be as safe and comfortable as possible — trauma-sensitive in every way.
Weeks 2–12+
Residential Trauma-Focused Treatment
Residential treatment integrates evidence-based trauma therapies — EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), trauma-focused CBT, somatic therapies, and DBT — with addiction recovery programming. PTSD and addiction are treated together in every clinical session.
Month 2–4
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
PHP maintains intensive trauma therapy and addiction recovery programming — 5 days per week — while clients begin building independent routines. Particular focus on emotional regulation, PTSD symptom management, and relapse prevention.
Ongoing
Aftercare & Continued Trauma Support
PTSD recovery is not linear, and triggers can emerge months after treatment. Northbound's aftercare plan includes continued psychiatric monitoring, alumni support, and referrals for ongoing trauma therapy as needed.
Why Choose Northbound
Treatment That Goes Further
EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is one of the most evidence-supported therapies for PTSD. Northbound's EMDR-trained clinicians integrate it into residential treatment for clients with trauma-driven addiction.
Trauma-Informed Culture
Every staff member at Northbound is trained in trauma-informed care principles — safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment guide every clinical interaction.
Dual Diagnosis Integrated Care
PTSD and addiction are treated simultaneously by a multidisciplinary team — psychiatrists, trauma therapists, addiction counselors — in a single, coherent treatment plan.
Specialized Trauma Group Therapy
Northbound's group therapy tracks include trauma-specific groups where clients with PTSD can process experiences and build coping skills alongside peers who share their clinical reality.
Trauma-Informed Military & First Responder Care
Northbound's trauma-informed clinical team has extensive experience treating combat-related PTSD, first-responder trauma, and co-occurring substance use — integrating military culture and identity into individualized care plans.
38+ Years of Trauma Expertise
Northbound's clinical team has treated complex trauma and co-occurring addiction for nearly four decades. Our USC-verified outcomes and JCAHO accreditation reflect the depth of that expertise.
Recovery Is Possible
Trauma Doesn't Have to Define the Rest of Your Life
PTSD can make the world feel permanently dangerous and the past feel permanently present. But trauma is treatable — and so is the addiction that grew around it. Northbound's clinical team has walked this path with thousands of clients, and we know that healing is real.
Our admissions team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The call is confidential, costs nothing, and comes with no obligation. If trauma and substance use are connected for you or someone you love, we're ready to help.
“What happened to you does not define what happens next. Recovery from PTSD and addiction is possible — and we know how to get there.”
— 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) 311-0003PTSD and addiction are deeply connected. Trauma symptoms — nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, and intrusive memories — are intensely uncomfortable, and substances often provide the only relief that feels real. Over time, self-medication becomes dependency. Research shows 30–60% of people seeking addiction treatment also meet criteria for PTSD.
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