Roughly 50 percent of individuals with serious mental illness are also affected by substance abuse. When a person has co-occurring disorders -- mental illness and substance abuse -- it is referred to as a dual diagnosis.Research has shown that a person with a dual diagnosis needs to treat both problems to fully recover. Focusing on one does not ensure the other will go away.
There are dual diagnosis services available that integrate treatments, helping both conditions at the same time. Positivity, hope and optimism are the foundation of these integrated treatments.
For more information on treatments for dual diagnosis, click here. For information on other issues related to mental illness, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website or call (412) 366-3788.
