Treatment for Dual Diagnosis: Substance Abuse and Mental Illness

People who have both a mental or emotional disorder and a drug or alcohol addiction are said to have a dual diagnosis disorder. A dual diagnosis disorder is very common and it’s also very treatable. For the best chance of recovery, people with a dual diagnosis need integrated treatment for both substance abuse and their mental or emotional disorder at the same time.

How Common Is a Dual Diagnosis?

• More than half of all people with a serious mental illness also have an alcohol or drug abuse or addiction problem, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

• More than fifty percent of drug abusers and 37 percent of alcohol abusers have a mental illness, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Why Is Integrated Treatment so Important?

Each condition worsens and can prompt the other:

1. Alcohol and drugs can worsen psychiatric symptoms, reduce the effectiveness of psychiatric medications and reduce the likelihood of treatment compliance.

2. Symptomatic mental illness can prompt the use of alcohol or drugs as self medication, and can reduce the resolve or ability to stay abstinent.

For a better chance at lasting recovery, treatment must address both problems at the same time — and, ideally, should be from the same team of doctors, therapists and healthcare professionals.

Effective Dual Diagnosis Treatment

The first step in dual diagnosis treatment, if needed, is medical detoxification, which focuses primarily on the addiction. After successfully withdrawing from drugs or alcohol, the client can then participate in more integrated treatment for both addiction and mental illness.

Some components of effective dual diagnosis treatment programs include the following:

• Programs that are developed exclusively for the treatment of dual diagnosis patients and that offer group therapy sessions comprised of patients undergoing similar challenges.

• Programs that offer case management services, ensuring that the therapeutic services of a team of clinicians are delivered in an integrated manner and with full cooperation and communication between all involved.

• Programs that bring in family members for support, education and involvement in the recovery process.

• Programs that offer life-skills training, education or employment assistance programs.

• Programs staffed by doctors able and willing to prescribe medications as appropriate.

Recovery From a Dual Diagnosis is Very Possible

A dual diagnosis can complicate the situation, treatment can take longer and dual diagnosis patients should seek out care specific to their needs — but dual diagnosis treatment can and does work.

Call the National Resource Center at (888) 266-6129 to learn more about treatment programs in your area that meet the needs of those with both mental illness and addiction.