Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Addiction and mental illness co-occur at alarming rates. While there are many possible combinations of co-occurring conditions, bipolar disorder and substance abuse are among the most common dual diagnoses. An estimated 56% of people with bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) also battle addiction to drugs or alcohol at some point in their lives.

Substance abuse and mental illness often coincide, and treating them separately can be unproductive for those in recovery. For this reason, we at Northbound Treatment believe in addressing both issues as part of a comprehensive drug or alcohol rehab program. Roughly half of those suffering from a mental health disorder also struggle with substance abuse.

Many alcoholics and drug addicts also suffer from a mental health condition. It goes both ways, too—those with severe mental illness often struggle with substance abuse. In fact, national surveys have concluded that roughly half of adults in the U.S. with a psychiatric diagnosis have co-occurring alcoholism or drug addiction. Though there is less data

Before diving in, it’s important to answer the question: what is dual diagnosis? When a person has a dual diagnosis, they’re diagnosed with drug or alcohol addiction as well as a mental health condition. Sometimes referred to as “co-occurring disorders” or “comorbidity,” psychological distress and substance abuse often go hand in hand.  As such, treating