09/02/2025
Please check out our new piece on Vive Treatment Centers .
https://www.improvelifepllc.com/physician-led-care
Addiction and Mental Health: Why Intensive Care Is Sometimes the Best Step
When patients come to me for psychiatric care, they often present with anxiety, depression, insomnia, or mood instability. While medication management and therapy are helpful tools, sometimes these symptoms are rooted in a deeper issue: addiction. Substance use can mimic or worsen psychiatric disorders, and a few outpatient sessions with a psychiatrist simply aren’t enough to resolve what may be a lifelong struggle with addiction. That’s where referral to an intensive, specialized program becomes essential.
Why I Refer to VIVE in Washington, DC
For patients struggling with substance use disorders, I frequently recommend VIVE Treatment Centers in Dupont Circle, founded and directed by Dr. Seth Rosenblatt. Dr. Rosenblatt is board certified in addiction medicine, a distinction held by only a small number of physicians nationwide. His training and expertise allow him to treat the medical, psychological, and social dimensions of addiction. Learn how he has taught the Improve Medical Culture interns here.
At VIVE, patients have access to: Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) designed to address addiction at its core. Medical expertise in withdrawal management, relapse prevention, and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Holistic recovery support, including therapy, group work, and lifestyle interventions. This is not a “quick fix.” It’s structured, evidence-based care for patients who need more than a prescription or a weekly therapy session.
Addiction and Psychiatry: The Overlap
As a psychiatrist, my role is to recognize when symptoms are not just psychiatric but are driven or complicated by substance use. For example:
Depression worsened by alcohol. Anxiety intensified by stimulant misuse. Sleep issues related to cannabis, opioids, or sedatives.
When I identify this pattern, the most responsible next step is referral to a program like VIVE, where patients can receive comprehensive treatment tailored to addiction recovery.
A Collaborative Approach to Lasting Change
Just as with any complex medical condition, mental health providers need to know their limits. Addiction is not something to “dabble” in with short-term care. Patients deserve physician-level expertise and intensive programming when appropriate. By working collaboratively with Dr. Rosenblatt and his team at VIVE, I help ensure patients don’t just mask symptoms but take meaningful steps toward long-term health and recovery.
If you or someone you love is facing both psychiatric struggles and substance use, you don’t have to face it alone. With the right combination of psychiatric support and an intensive addiction program like VIVE Treatment Centers in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC lasting change is possible. VIVE is conveniently located at 1636 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, close to Dupont Circle Metro, and offers both in-person and virtual sessions.
We provide therapy, medication management and wellness strategies to adolescents, young adults, and women of all ages in Northern Virgini
