When mental illness and substance disorder coexist, both disorders should be considered primary, and integrated dual primary addiction treatment is required. This category is dedicated for those seeking addiction treatment for substance abuse and a dual diagnosis. We have included the definition of dual-diagnosis denitrified by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT): “the simultaneous existence of a substance use disorder interacting with one or more independent DSM-IV Axis I or II mental disorders and/or a cognitive/physical/sensory/and/or developmental disability.

The dual disorder/disability is of a type and severity which exacerbates the substance use disorder or other conditions, and/or complicates treatment of the substance use disorder, and/or interferes with functioning in age appropriate social roles.” Examples of Mental Illness are bipolar disorder, depression, trauma, Post Tramatic Stress Disorder, and Eating Disorders.

If yuo are looking for dual diagnosis treatment go to www.steppingstonecenter.org