A dual diagnosis occurs when a person is experiencing both a substance use disorder and a mental illness at the same time. Mental health conditions common to those using substances include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and trauma. These are serious conditions and many times individuals will use substances to cope with difficult feelings.

Substances often interfere with the effectiveness of medications designed to help mental illness, causing individuals’ increased substance use and perpetuating a ceaseless cycle of impairment. The daily situation for a person grappling with an untreated dual diagnosis grows worse over time, as both the symptoms of the substance use disorder and the mental illness increase in number and severity. Without appropriate treatment, experiencing improvements in mental health or substance use are difficult to achieve.

Dual diagnosis treatment involves addressing both the substance use disorder and the mental illness simultaneously, though many programs will only treat one of these conditions, requiring people to switch facilities and work with an entirely new treatment team. Inner Voyage Recovery believes clients should receive the therapy, medication, and support necessary to begin feeling better and making progress in their lives.