Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders must address both issues in order to become fully rehabilitated. Some individuals take drugs or alcohol to alleviate symptoms of mental health complications, and some individuals take drugs which then, in turn, causes symptoms which mimic mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Addiction rehabilitation professionals know how to distinguish between the two, and can work with clients to appropriately treat real mental health conditions in tandem with any other substance abuse treatment that is done with the individual. This has proven to be effective in keeping people with mental health problems off of drugs and mentally stable and healthy.

It is not uncommon for persons with HIV/AIDS to end up in a substance abuse rehabilitation program in search of help for severe addiction problems. Often people who abuse drugs and alcohol are predisposed to such diseases due to certain circumstances which afflict the drug culture such as sharing dirty needles to inject drugs or participating in risky sexual behavior because of lowered sexual inhibitions caused by drug use. Persons with HIV/AIDS deserve effective treatment just like any otherwise healthy addicted individual. Substance abuse rehabilitation facilities that accept and cater to persons with HIV/AIDS offer specialized care to address any health issues that may come up in the course of treatment. This way, any physical barriers to rehabilitation are alleviated so that they can conquer their addiction once and for all.

Gays and Lesbians can sometimes have distinctive treatment needs when receiving substance abuse treatment. A specialized curriculum and treatment setting which is conducive to the needs of gays and lesbians is available at certain drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs across the nation which understand the unique needs and challenges which gays and lesbians will encounter during treatment. Gay and lesbians can achieve full rehabilitation and recovery just like any other person in treatment, although it can be beneficial for gays and lesbians to be in a supportive setting which doesn't judge them or segregate them because of their sexual preference.

Criminal justice clients often need drug rehabilitation due to problems with drug or alcohol addiction. Due to the nature of the criminal justice system, there are specific steps and guidelines that must be adhered to in order to be accepted into a criminal justice substance abuse rehab program or recovery program. The first step is to establish the criminal justice clients eligibility. This step is accomplished by a panel of officials who determine how much and what type of drug is necessary. Sometimes, the criminal justice clients obtain their drug and alcohol treatment while they are incarcerated. For the best possible results, they are encouraged, if not strictly directed, to continue their recovery once they leave jail and enroll in sober living or a long-term residential transitional living program.

Individuals can become addicted to drugs or alcohol no matter their handicap, disability or personal physical challenge. This sometimes makes people particularly more susceptible to becoming involved in substance abuse, because of the varying challenges that this can bring about in the person's life. This is true for those people in the deaf and hearing impaired community as well, and treatment for substance abuse and addiction is sometimes required. Deaf or hearing impaired persons will require ASL or other assistance as part of their treatment needs, and there are drug and alcohol treatment centers available which cater to these needs. Professional treatment counselors who know ASL and can provide other necessary assistance to deaf or hearing impaired substance abusers.

There increasing numbers of Spanish speaking clients walking into drug rehab programs every day needing help. Because Spanish is such a prevalent language in this country, many drug rehabilitation programs are capable of providing treatment services to Spanish speaking individuals. Additionally, many treatment professionals make it a point to learn the language so as to be able to provide the treatment and care needed for Spanish speaking clients.

People who speak other languages, other than English that is, should receive substance abuse rehabilitation which is on par with English speakers. Speakers of other languages should not feel that their treatment curriculum or treatment setting is going to be any less effective because they don't speak English. There are many substance abuse treatment facilities available which cater to those who speak foreign languages, all of which offer a selection of programs to choose from. For example, some drug rehabilitation programs which can treat people who speak other languages are only short term rehab facilities, but there are more long term options available. Foreign language speakers can seek the advice from an addiction professional in their area to choose a drug rehabilitation facility that provides rehabilitation services in their specific language.

Self payment substance abuse treatment programs are an excellent alternative to other types of rehabilitation centers i.e. private medical insurance and state funded programs. People who are able to attend self payment programs pay for their entire treatment process out of pocket. Keep in mind though, this does not mean that they will not have access to financial assistance if needed. It just means that self payment is their primary method of covering the cost of their drug rehabilitation program. To learn more about self payment programs, contact a substance abuse treatment program and ask about their payment options. It is beneficial to contact a number of facilities so that you have a comparison of your choices with regards to rehab options and payment options.

Drug addiction and alcoholism can effect many older Americans and seniors, and this problem continues to grow as each year passes. Seniors who are covered through the Medicare program, an insurance program funded through the federal government for Americans in this age bracket, can use their benefits to receive vital treatment services for addiction at a wide variety of drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities around the country. Medicare covers both inpatient and outpatient rehab programs, and seniors who wish to receive treatment can consult with their primary care physician to choose a treatment program covered by Medicare which would fit his or her particular needs.