The Challenges of a Dual Diagnosis When Treating Addictions
The Challenges of a Dual Diagnosis When Treating Addictions
Drug Rehabilitation and Mental Health Disorders many times end up in the same sentence when people speak to medical health professionals. The medical term, dual diagnosis, is when mental illness and an addiction occurs in the same patient. The National Alliance of Mental Illness aptly stated, “having a simultaneous mental illness and a substance abuse disorder frequently leads to overall poorer functioning and a great chance of relapse.”
Society greatly misunderstands both a mental health disorder as well as substance addictions. Many people believe that if the person only had more willpower or “tried harder” that they would easily overcome what they are dealing with. Nothing could be further from the truth. Both mental health disorders as well as addictions have a biological base as well as emotional. If these two are not treated, a person’s life can be destroyed.
Unfortunately, many people who are in drug rehabilitation being treated for a mental health disorder is said to have a dual diagnosis. Likewise, many who are diagnosed with a mental health disorder initially, is found to either be abusing drugs or alcohol. Furthermore, close to one third of alcoholics and nearly half of drug abusers have a serious mental health disorder and some have many.
Although everyone agrees that the prevalence of a dual diagnosis is real, there has been very little research done to substantiate why it occurs. What experts are discovering is that many times addiction happens because a person tries self-medication to get rid of mental anguish and pain. Without realizing it, not much time passes and what started out to be harmless ends in addiction and abuse.
Addictions are painful enough without having to realize that a person has a mental health disease as well. Society needs to understand that mental health disorders are real as an illness like diabetes. They cause pain, emotional trauma, physical damage and need to be controlled with professionals just as any other disease that the person might have.
Understanding and knowledge is of the utmost importance when a person has a dual diagnosis. Now is not the time for blame or accusations. With some care from professionals and surrounding the patient with people who are good for them, a person can fully recover.
For more resources regarding Drug Rehabilitation or even about Dual Diagnosis and especially about Mental Health Disorders please review these pages.
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