Understanding Dual Diagnosis: Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders

Drug addicts who also have a mental illness are given a dual diagnosis, which typically requires additional treatment when patients enter rehabilitation. Both diseases must be treated to sustain a successful recovery. Intense therapy and medication are usually combined to treat people with a dual diagnosis. The Foundations Association estimates that co-occurring disorders affect almost 14 million Americans annually.

Names

• Dual diagnosis is also referred to as "co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders."

Rehab

• Most drug rehabilitation centers offer dual diagnosis treatment. Some facilities focus exclusively on patients that have a dual diagnosis.

Order

• Sometimes people with mental disorders self-medicate and build an addiction. Others develop mental disorders after long-term drug abuse.

Detox

• Patients must first undergo a detoxification process from the drugs they are addicted to before they can be treated for the mental illness.

Common Illnesses

• Common mental illnesses associated with dual diagnosis include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anti-social personality disorder.

Family

• Look for family counseling when considering treatment centers. Dually diagnosed patients have special needs following discharge that the family should be aware of.