Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders must address both issues in order to recover completely. Some people take drugs to alleviate symptoms of mental health disorders, and some people take drugs which then, in turn, creates symptoms which mimic mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Addiction rehabilitation professionals know how to differentiate between the two, and can work with clients to properly treat real mental health disorders in tandem with any other substance abuse treatment that is done with the person. This has proven to be effective in keeping people with mental health disorders off of drugs and mentally stable and productive.

It is not uncommon for someone with HIV/AIDS to end up in an addiction treatment facility in search of help for severe addiction problems. Often individuals 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 becoming involved in risky sexual behavior because of lowered sexual inhibitions caused by drug use. Persons with HIV/AIDS deserve effective rehabilitation just like any otherwise healthy addicted individual. Substance abuse rehabilitation centers that accept and cater to persons with HIV/AIDS provide specialized care to address any health issues that may come up in the course of treatment. This way, any physical barriers to rehabilitation are resolved so that they can conquer their addiction once and for all.

Gays and Lesbians can sometimes have unique treatment needs when receiving substance abuse treatment. A specialized curriculum and treatment environment which is conducive to the needs of gays and lesbians is offered at certain drug and alcohol treatment facilities around the country which recognize the unique needs and challenges which gays and lesbians will encounter during recovery. Gay and lesbians can achieve full rehabilitation and recovery just like any other individual in treatment, although it can be beneficial for gays and lesbians to be in a supportive environment which doesn't judge them or segregate them due to their sexual preference.

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

Self payment drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers are an excellent alternative to other types of rehabilitation facilities i.e. private medical insurance and state funded facilities. Individuals who are capable of attending self payment programs pay for their entire rehab 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 substance abuse treatment program. To learn more about self payment at a specific program, make contact with a substance abuse rehabilitation facility and inquire as to their payment options. It is beneficial to contact a number of facilities so that you have a comparison of your choices with regards to treatment options and payment options.