Dual Diagnosis Treatment: What is it? Is It Important?

Addiction is when a person engages in compulsive substance use despite known harmful consequences. They are unable to stop on their own. They’ve lost power over the substance—it now controls them.

Does that sound familiar? Are you or someone you love battling an addiction?

It is common for people to suffer from both addictions and mental health issues. In the United States, approximately 8.9 million people have both mental health and a substance abuse issues. This is referred to as dual disorders. And this is why dual diagnosis treatment is so important.

Dual diagnosis treatment is designed to meet the complex needs of those suffering from addiction and a co-occurring mental health condition.

More than half of those struggling with dual disorders don’t receive treatment for either disorder. If you or someone you love is struggling, speak confidentially with a certified counselor now, call (888) 837-6577.

What is a dual diagnosis? And why is it important if you’re suffering from addiction and a secondary mental health problem to receive dual diagnosis treatment?

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis refers to someone with both an alcohol or drug addiction and a secondary co-occurring or comorbid disorder. The secondary condition can be any number of other health concerns, but most often a dual diagnosis includes a co-occurring mental health or mood disorder.

An example of a dual diagnosis would be if you suffer from alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder. In such a combination, it may be that the experience of trauma led to your alcohol abuse as a means of alleviating the psychological and emotional effects.

Similarly, you may have a panic disorder or other anxiety-related issues and develop a substance use disorder attempting to self-medicate. There are many mental health concerns which carry higher instances of addiction, depression and bipolar disorder are two solid examples.

Why is Dual Diagnosis Treatment Important?

If you’re battling to overcome a substance abuse problem through treatment you’re likely to encounter great difficulty maintaining your sobriety while symptoms of your mental health or mood disorder go untreated.

Dual diagnosis programs can be offered inpatient or outpatient, but inpatient is usually preferred as it provides dual diagnosis clients the most care for their complex needs. Dual-diagnosis treatment has two goals: helping you overcome addiction and helping you manage the mental health or mood concern so symptoms become less likely to trigger a relapse.

We want to help. Honey Lake Clinic’s dual diagnosis program offers specialized, integrated treatment for patients who are suffering from both addictions and mental health issues.

Honey Lake Clinic’s Dual Diagnosis Program is unique, offering you specialized, integrated treatment if you are suffering from both addictions and mental health issues. Our treatment program will bring wholeness, healing, and restoration to your life.

Honey Lake Clinic offers a residential, holistic program addressing all three levels—

The individualized treatment by our highly trained staff at Honey Lake is complemented by a supportive, healing environment that is conducive for a complete transformation of your mind, body, and spirit.