What is Dual Diagnosis?

“Dual Diagnosis” is the term used when a person suffers from both a substance addiction problem and another mental health issue such as depression or an anxiety disorder. Dual Diagnosis can also be known as Co-morbidity.

A person may abuse alcohol or other drugs in order to cope with a mental health problem (which they may not even know  they have;) this is known as self-medication. They may then become addicted and the addiction becomes the most visible problem.

On the other hand the person’s addiction issue may create another mental health problem. It can be a chicken and egg situation. Whatever the case, we believe that in order to give the person the best chance for a successful recovery, when a person arrives for treatment the whole person needs to be addressed.

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