A patient asks his therapist "What is dual diagnosis?"

What is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?

Dual diagnosis is a term that treatment professionals use to identify mental illness and co-occurring substance use. Both conditions form a symbiotic relationship in which one either contributes to or draws from the other. For instance, a client may self-medicated to cope with a mental illness. Likewise, excessive substance use can intensify the symptoms of…

a man sits with his hands on his head and wonders about how dual diagnosis treatment can help him

Dual Diagnosis Treatment: How We Can Help

At Recovery Ways, the therapeutic team takes a Dual Diagnosis approach to treatment. Dual Diagnosis Treatment emphasizes that a person has a mood disorder (such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.) and a substance use disorder simultaneously. When this happens, it is common for the person to struggle to understand the relationship between the two…

pills and a needle represent a complex addiction

Complex Addiction

Complex Addiction Many people do not realize that many people who struggle with addiction, struggle with multiple substances. Many people start off using drugs at party scenes where they mix substances. Alcohol and cocaine are a common mix in the party scene. Other people who become addicted to prescription pills are often abusing multiple prescription…

a missing puzzle piece reminds the viewer of the question what is dual diagnosis

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual Diagnosis and Co-Occurring Disorders are interchangeable terms for someone who has a substance abuse problem as well as a mood or personality disorder. These co-occurring disorders can affect mood, thinking, and behavior. With a dual diagnosis, patients are simultaneously treated for their substance abuse and their mood or personality disorder. A lot of times…