Dual Diagnosis Drug Rehab & Treatment

A dual diagnosis drug rehab facility provides comprehensive substance abuse dual diagnosis drug treatment.  Substance abuse and dual diagnosis issues commonly occur, concurrently.  Oftentimes, it is difficult to know which is the precursor, the substance abuse or the mental and emotional health issues.  Chemical addiction and substance abuse often develop, as a result of prolonged use of medications prescribed to mitigate psychiatric issues like depression, anxiety, compulsive behaviors, PTSD/trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, bi-polar, and others. 

In many cases, tolerance to benzodiazepines, a class of drugs commonly prescribed to treat psychiatric issues, develops in an extremely brief period of time, which easily leads to drug abuse and/or extreme difficulty getting off the prescribed medication.  Patients, very justifiably, feel victimized as a result of their drug addiction, as they were legally prescribed the medications that they are ultimately addicted to.

A dual diagnosis drug rehab facility, by definition, must be competent in the treatment of substance abuse dual diagnosis drug addiction issues.  Substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment programs must have a treatment team of professionals who are experienced and capable in treating, concurrently, substance abuse and dual diagnosis issues.  These treatment teams typically consist of one or more psychiatrists, psychologists, behavioral therapists, drug/alcohol abuse counselors, and other adjunct professionals. 

Dual diagnosis drug treatment typically begins with medical stabilization, including chemical detoxification and medication management, which is then followed by behavioral therapy for the remainder of primary substance abuse dual diagnosis treatment.  Intensive individual therapy is necessary to uncover, address, and resolve the underlying mental and emotional issues that so often lead to inappropriate self-medication through alcohol and/or drugs, prescribed or illegal.  If these psychiatric issues are not managed and hopefully resolved, the odds of relapse are extremely high in this patient population. 

In summation, a dual diagnosis drug rehab program provides comprehensive substance abuse dual diagnosis treatment.  Substance abuse and dual diagnosis drug treatment are provided, concurrently in this environment; however, the substance abuse issue is typically addressed, initially, from the perspective of medical stabilization/detoxification.  Following stabilization, the psychiatric issues are then addressed and managed.  This way, the client is able to function at a much higher level and often times can enjoy his/her life like they never have before.