Addiction Treatment Programs

Addiction treatment programs have begun to recognize the significance of identifying a person with a “dual diagnosis”. Put simply, this means that if an underlying cause for drug addiction exists, say mental illness, then that problem is taken into consideration along with the drug addiction.

Dual diagnosis is best described as the coexistence of a drug addiction, alcoholism and associated psychiatric disorder. Many people suffering from panic attacks or anxiety are known to take depressants such as valium, heroin or other opiates in an attempt to medicate the panic attacks; the same with cocaine, methamphetamine to deal with depression. Basically the person will choose any drug they can to counteract the feelings they are experiencing. Unfortunately, all they create is a drug addiction and the mental illness continues to persist.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

For this reason, there are addiction treatment programs that deal specifically with dual diagnosis treatment. This definitely does not mean that a person with a drug addiction is separated from a person with a dual diagnosis, but that the staff is trained to effectively deal with dual diagnosis. To separate the populations is to take a step back into the dark ages. Almost 50% of people suffering from drug addiction require dual diagnosis treatment.

In addition to dual diagnosis treatment centers, there are addiction treatment programs that have dedicated their resources to deal with certain specific populations. In other words, there may be a addiction center that provides addiction treatment or dual diagnosis treatment for the gay or lesbian (LGBT) community, while another center admits adolescents—no children, no adults, just teenagers. Interesting enough, there are many more addiction treatment centers for teenagers than the gay or lesbian population, but there is a higher incidence of drug addiction and dual diagnosis in the gay and lesbian community.

To locate an effective dual diagnosis treatment or an addiction treatment center feel free to call the national addiction helpline at 1-800-511-9225. Addiction treatment programs sensitive to the needs of the LGBT community can also be found at the national addiction helpline. CALL NOW!