by Michael Patrick

Created on: May 13, 2009   Last Updated: July 10, 2009

Dual diagnosis treatment is a tricky phrase that warrants attention. Basically, it refers to a combination of behavioral disorders in accompaniment with drug or alcohol abuse. If your loved one is diagnosed or suspected of needing dual diagnosis treatment, start with a review of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders #4 (DSM-IV). Google it for the Wikipedia version.

Aside from Bipolar Disorder (the current favorite of the psychiatric industry) there are ten defined personality disorders in the DSM-IV. The details of each disorder are recognizable as feelings we all have and are part of what makes us human. These are not diseases of the mind but instead are personality difficulties that inspire disagreeable behavior. The difference between a normal person and one with a disorder is the frequency and relative impact of the details. Determining those inherent character problems, when they happen and to what extent they contribute to drug abuse and how to correct and redirect those issues to bring about rehabilitation takes time and consistent observance by professionals who are not only trained but sensitive to behavioral nuances that lead to drug or alcohol abuse.

Dual diagnosis treatment is more complex than single-drug rehabilitation. A normal person may become addicted to a substance, find treatment and recover. A dual-diagnosis person is propelled into abuse by personality characteristics that drive him or her to use drugs to self-medicate. Thus, dual diagnosis treatment facilities must be equipped to deal not only with the social aspects of addiction, but also the behavioral and psychological underpinnings of the affliction. An individual undergoing treatment requires a constellation of talk-therapy, psychoanalysis, closely-monitored drug therapy, and patience. There is no quick fix; no silver bullet. Unfortunately, the cost is monumental and most health insurance companies deny payment for dual diagnosis treatment.

In selecting the right dual diagnosis treatment facility, take care. The market for rehabilitation is huge. Facilities compete for clients who pay upwards of $25 thousand dollars for a thirty-day stay. Many rehabilitation facilities that purport to offer dual diagnosis treatment are actually incompetent to evaluate and treat personality disorders that contribute to drug and alcohol abuse.

To find dual diagnosis treatment centers, go to your local library or, better yet, the Internet. The Internet will give

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