Addiction and Mental Health Treatment California

What is Dual Diagnosis?

If you’re reading this, chances are that you’re either looking for help with addiction, or you know someone who needs help and you want to understand what they’re going through. Either way, we’re here to help.

Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe people who suffer from both mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD). In the United States, it’s estimated that 25% of people who have mental illnesses also have substance use disorders—and vice versa. In other words, more than 1 in 4 Americans with mental illness also struggle with addiction at some point in their lives.

People who suffer from dual diagnoses often struggle with depression, anxiety disorders, or bipolar disorder. They may also experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, or other mood disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. People with dual diagnoses often feel hopeless about their situation because they don’t know where to start when it comes to getting help for their substance abuse issues—let alone their mental health problems!