Dual diagnosis programs are designed for patients who are afflicted with co-occurring disorders: a substance abuse problem in conjunction with a mental disorder. Due to the delicate and specialized nature of dual diagnosis treatment, patients often have difficulty finding quality therapy and wind up going from doctor to doctor with little to show for their efforts. Dual diagnosis patients are also growing in numbers. Studies indicate that approximately half of those with mental or depressive disorders are also impacted by substance abuse issues. That’s why it’s important to find a therapist who will treat the whole problem and not just the symptoms.

Dual Diagnosis: The Whole Problem

While co-occurring disorders often will turn into one big problem, the only effective form of therapy is to explore the pathology, origin and symptoms of both the substance abuse issue and the mental disorder and treat them both simultaneously. Unfortunately, there are many treatment centers in the US and on the Internet who claim to provide dual diagnosis treatment, but in reality they aren't a true dual diagnosis treatment facility. Dual diagnosis treatment centers are staffed by specialists who possess specific dual diagnosis experience, and they know how to treat dual diagnosis patients successfully. Before you consider getting dual diagnosis help for yourself or your loved one, an easy way to check if you are looking at a real dual diagnosis treatment center's website is to look for at least an entire page on their website just about dual diagnosis. Make sure they are not just listing it in their menu or have only a sentence or a paragraph written about dual diagnosis on their website. 

Above and Beyond: The Extra-Mile Part of Dual Diagnosis Therapy

People suffering from dual diagnosis disorders often are unable to find or keep a job, can't maintain relationships with family and friendships, and have great difficulty leading productive lives. Real dual diagnosis treatment centers address these problems and the many other issues that are associated with dual diagnosis, while simultaneously providing quality alcohol and drug rehab treatment to help the dual diagnosis sufferer become whole again.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Longer is Better

For dual diagnosis treatment to be successful, a long term (30 days or preferably longer) treatment program is recommended. Be wary of any treatment centers saying they can treat dual diagnosis is a short period of time. A lot of dual diagnosis treatment fails because patients stop their treatment too soon. Many of these individuals will then enter into a vicious cycle of starting and stopping treatment and never achieving a complete recovery. 

The National Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Information Center (NASAIC) maintains a continuously updated national database of the leading dual diagnosis treatment centers in the United States and around the world.