The Importance of Dual Diagnosis Programs

Dual diagnosis programs have not always existed.  In fact, they are recent developments that allow a previously ignored segment of the population to benefit from rehabilitation and finally quit using drugs.  This demographic includes people who are struggling with mental illnesses along with addiction, making treatments geared toward the general public quite ineffective.  Because of the characteristics of mental illness, some people are uncontrollably driven to drug abuse for different reasons than others that choose to use drugs because of their personality or lack of self-control.

Dual diagnosis rehabilitation exists today because addiction experts have recently begun to notice that patients who are suffering from two disorders couldn’t fully overcome either of the problems through standard rehabilitation efforts.  Before these programs came into being, patients who were suffering from addiction and mental illness were transferred from one institution to the next as their symptoms manifested themselves.  Finally, the solution of treating every problem in unison rather than individually was born in the form of dual diagnosis.

Thanks to this breakthrough treatment, patients can now stay in one facility and receive all the care they need instead of being transferred back and forth in the effort to find the best treatment for each problem individually.  This approach significantly improves the chances of successful rehabilitation and empowers patients to return to normal, permanently addiction-free lives.

Dual diagnosis programs are making a difference in people’s lives as they are able to find treatment designed specifically for their needs.  Everyone has a different reason and a unique story for starting on the path of substance abuse; as long as these issues are addressed in a professional setting, there is no reason why a patient can’t begin a clean and sober life.

At New Roads Treatment Center, this dual diagnosis approach is used to help all our patients overcome their addiction despite the presence of a mental illness.  If you have a loved one who is struggling with addiction, we can confidently say that they will get the help they need from New Roads.