Dual diagnosis is common in addiction sufferers. The co-existence of addiction with one or more mental illnesses is called dual diagnosis and it can be complicated to treat. Luckily, dual diagnosis facilities can help patients manage both illnesses simultaneously. A coordinated and holistic approach to treating dual diagnosis sufferers is critical and there are a variety of therapies and treatments available to those in need of dual diagnosis treatment.

An essential part of effective dual diagnosis treatment is for the medical practitioner to examine the leading and underlying cause of the mental illness. Knowing this makes it possible for practitioners to prescribe the right balance of therapies to the patient.

For example, a user may develop a mental illness due to their substance addiction. It is common for long-term Methamphetamine users to develop psychosis. This frightening mental illness causes a person to blur reality. They may see things that aren't there, display extreme paranoia and even act out violently. Another common symptom of psychosis is the fixation on a particular item or subject. Meth users that have drug-induced psychosis may obsessively clean or display other obsessive behaviors.

On the other hand, it is not uncommon for distressed people to turn to drugs or alcohol in an attempt to give them some reprieve for their mental torture. As many drugs and alcohol have addictive qualities, there is a high risk that these people will become dependent on their chosen substance. What started as mental distress, and perhaps even mental illness for some has now turned into a dual diagnosis.

There is a complexity involved with dual diagnosis that makes effective treatment difficult. A patient can display behaviors or physical ill health that are emphatic to both addiction and mental illness. Deciphering the primary cause of the side effect is the tough job of a medical practitioner in a dual diagnosis facility.

What type of dual diagnosis facilities are available to get treatment?

There has been exponential growth in the number of dual diagnosis facilities across the country. The rationale for this is the increase in co-existing addiction and mental illness in the population.

Commonly cited reasons for the rise can be attributed to many different factors. These include:

* Attitude toward drugs: While countrywide there is a push from government and law enforcement to beat the drug war, people's attitudes towards drug-taking have become relaxed. Marijuana is now legal in some states, with many minimizing the health risks it can pose when consumed to excessive levels. Furthermore, the glamorizing of drugs in Hollywood and online media has contributed further to this relaxed way of thinking about chemical substances.

* Increase in stress: As the pace of the modern world rapidly increases, stress levels are on the rise. Americans are turning to drugs at a growing rate as a means to ease their pressure, be it money, career or family related.

* Female Influence: More and more women are using and abusing illicit substances and statistics have reached an all-time high.

When drug addiction starts to degrade every corner of society, it can be hard to find a solution. At one point in time, drug taking was seen as an activity engaged in by the low socio-economic population, but due to a growth in prescription medication addiction, middle-class America is finding themselves in the midst of a drug epidemic.

As life gets increasingly stressful, it is no surprise that dual diagnosis sufferers are on the rise. As the co-existing illnesses require a high level of astute medical care, entering a drug diagnosis facility is the best course of action for a patient.

Inpatient dual diagnosis facilities offer a home away from home for drug-addicted people who also have a mental illness. Some services are more like luxury hotels than rehabs today with some offering top of the range gym facilities, custodial services, and spa therapies. While some people might sneer at such a sophisticated suite of amenities for addicts, the fact is that a drug dependent has never needed more self-care in their life than they do when they hit rock bottom. Often associated with addiction are extremely low in levels of self-esteem and dignity. Inpatient facilities that offer more than just clinical services are just the medicine such a patient requires to help get them well, not only in body but in mind and spirit too.

If you are considering entering a dual diagnosis facility, it is always advisable to contact your insurance provider to about your drug rehabilitation coverage; that's if you have any included in your policy. Services such as these types just highlighted can run into the tens of thousands of dollars so understanding what your budget stretches to straight up saves any disappointment later.

Some treatments that may be available in a dual diagnosis facility include:

* Counseling: Perhaps one of the most widely known treatments is counseling. This traditional talk therapy has long been heralded for its value in treating both people with mental illness and addiction. Just sharing and talking through feelings, problems and behaviors can take a massive burden off a patient's shoulders. Furthermore, the perception of one's circumstances from an impartial, external party can help a patient see their illnesses for the real damage that they are causing.

* Medical Detox: Also known as medically assisted detox, anyone consuming highly potent chemicals compulsively such as meth or opiates, will likely need this treatment.

* Nutritional Guidance: Anorexia can present in a drug addicted person. For example, a patient suffering from anorexia nervosa may become addicted to diet pills such as phentermine. This psychostimulant has similar effects to that of speed, and the user will see an increase in both their energy levels and ability to concentrate. Nutritional guidance is an educational treatment aimed at providing the patient with the tools they need to manage their diet in a manner that benefits their health and wellbeing.

* Prolonged Exposure Therapy: There is a growing concern for the service people of this country. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a known risk in the military and more and more returning soldiers are dealing with their psychological war wounds with prescription medications such as opiates.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy helps a patient to tackle their PTSD by confronting their traumatic experiences head-on. In a PET session, a clinician will coax some distressing information from the patient with probing questions. While this sounds upsetting, the end objective of the activity is for the patient to eventually feel a decrease in their distress by revisiting and talking through the traumatic experiences that have caused their PTSD.

* Anti-Depressant Medication: There are so many types of medication available today to tackle depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs as they are commonly known are the highly effective class of anti-depressant helping millions of Americans. These new class of drugs have minimal side effects and offer a high level of relief for those in deep distress. For anxiety and sleep problems, something stronger may be prescribed. It is crucial that a practitioner measures up the severity of addiction against the life-inhibiting qualities of the mental illness to make sure that they don't set the drug dependent person up for new problems.

* Psychoeducation: By equipping both patient and family members with comprehensive information on mental illness, psychoeducation helps everyone involved to understand risk factors, symptoms and the recovery process better.

* Family Therapy: This sometimes confronting treatment offers the family the opportunity to speak to the addict in a safe space. In family therapy, a clinician will facilitate conversations between patient and loved ones, allowing both to vocalize their feelings through this challenging time. The treatment offers an opportunity for the patient to make amends and begin to build damaged relationships again.

What are The Common Symptoms of Dual Diagnosis?

If you are worried about your loved one and think they may need dual diagnosis treatment, there are certain signs to watch out for. Self-medicating is common for a person in emotional distress to do. By taking drugs or drinking to excess, the patient may believe that they will feel better, but the reality is that they will only decline further into addiction and mental illness.

Social withdrawal can indicate a mental health problem so watch out for this person and keep an eye on their eating habits. If they are reaching for the liquor cabinet more frequently this can also be cause for concern.

Lack of interest in work or home life is very indicative of a problem. A person suffering from either drug addiction or mental illness will likely display a decreased desire for activities they usually enjoyed.

Acting recklessly and engaging in risky or promiscuous behavior are causes for concern. If a person begins stealing from loved ones, and it is out of character behavior, then they are likely caught up in something beyond their control such as drug addiction.

Dual diagnosis sufferers certainly have a tough journey ahead of them. It is so important that a person with co-existing mental health and addiction problems gets help in a dual diagnosis facility. Likely these services offer the full suite of treatments this person needs, all under the one roof. The mountain may be steep, but sobriety is at the top.