Could You Be Suffering From a “Dual Diagnosis”?

This is a guest post by James White on the topic of dual diagnosis. 

Unfortunately for a number of Americans suffering from addiction to drugs and alcohol, it is only half of a major problem.

Often hallucinations, memory loss, and other brain-related problems are blamed on long-term use of drugs and alcohol.

However, it is very possible that these issues existed prior to an individual’s decision to abuse drugs.

What happens is what is known as a dual diagnosis. A dual diagnosis is when mental illness and drug addiction are both present. For example, an individual may be a paranoid schizophrenic who is known to abuse methamphetamine. The bizarre behavior he or she may exhibit could be blamed on the effects of “meth” or their untreated condition.

It may be hard to tell, which is why it’s important to determine if a dual diagnosis exists as soon as possible.

How to Tell If One Has a Dual Diagnosis

The existence of a dual diagnosis is often treated as a “chicken or the egg” problem. This means that it can be hard to tell if a mental health problem was present before drug abuse began or whether present mental health deterioration is the direct result of continuous substance abuse.

In actuality, some drugs can cause mental health issues in patients that had previously not had such problems. However, for individuals who already had those issues, drug abuse tends to make the problems far worse.

In a strange sort of way, this can actually help signal the existence of mental health problems. That’s because, without drug abuse, mental illness may develop more slowly and go unnoticed for a long time. If a teen didn’t do drugs but suffered from mental illness, it may be a decade before the more alarming symptoms are noted. However, if the same teen were to suffer from a drug habit, within a far shorter amount of time, those symptoms would be noted.

This is not an endorsement for the self-medication that persons suffering from mental illness are often engaging in when they opt to take drugs or alcohol. It just means that it’s very important to pay close attention to whether or not drugs were taken to cope with certain symptoms such as depression, anxiety, hallucinations or other issues. If this is the case then more often than not it was the condition that led to drug addiction and a dual condition may be present.

How to Cope With a Loved One’s Dual Diagnosis

Perhaps it is not you that is suffering from a dual diagnosis, but you suspect someone you care about has this problem. Before jumping to conclusions, it’s important to do the necessary research.

Look online for articles from medical authorities and government agencies that explain what dual diagnosis is, how drugs affect mental health, and how certain pre-existing conditions may be made worse by addiction. Contact treatment centers and therapists for information and advice going forward. You may want counseling or you may decide to contact a professional regarding a possible intervention.

The best thing you can do is educate yourself and be firm in your stance not to enable a loved one’s drug habit. Should they join a rehab program, continue to offer support and encourage them to seek mental health treatment to determine if a dual diagnosis is possible.

James White is a content coordinator for Clarity Way.

Did you like this article? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Thanks for reading!

If you liked this article, please share it.