The process referred to as dual diagnosis is one that describes people that have been diagnosed with a mental illness in addition to a chemical dependency of some sort. The presence of a chemical dependency makes it extremely difficult to treat mental illness, and vice versa. Thus dual diagnosis is more intensive than ordinary chemical dependency or brain related treatment.Though it all looks scary, it is actually not as serious as it sounds, and dual diagnosis is usually effective. Studies have shown that at least half of the population that are victims of any sort of addiction also suffer from mental illness, and there is a high probability that mentally ill folks will eventually become drug addicts. This show clearly that the two regularly go together.

Fortunately, almost any drug treatment program or mental illness treatment worth its salt is fully informed about this relationship, and dual diagnosis treatment can be administered by the two treatment programs. thus if you or a loved one find yourselves in a treatment program that does not provide any form of dual diagnosis treatment, you should quit immediately.Some treatment programs have gained high renown for their dual diagnosis treatment, and have thus specialized on this and make it their niche. if you are a dual diagnosis patient and it is within your power to make decision, ensure you go for such programs. there are also many support groups and therapists that are experts on dual diagnosis treatment.