Post by Loretta K on Jun 16, 2016 3:26:52 GMT
Dual diagnosis means someone has both a mental illness and a substance use problem. Many people with alcohol and drug problems have a range of mental health problems at higher rates than the general community. This includes increased instances of anxiety and depression. The abused substance could be tobacco, prescribed medication, illegal drugs or alcohol.
In many cases, it is hard to tell which problem came first. Perhaps the mental illness prompted the person to abuse drugs, or else their drug problem pre-dated their mental illness. The substance use could also worsen the symptoms of the person’s mental illness – for example, smoking marijuana can trigger a psychotic episode in some people.
A recognised problem is that many services for substance abuse and mental illness don’t overlap, which means that the person with dual diagnosis is managed through separate systems. This can make diagnosis and treatment more difficult. Victoria’s specialist mental health and drug and alcohol services are now working together, developing partnerships for the provision of integrated treatment and care of people with dual diagnoses
Diagnosis can be difficult, because it isn’t always clear which problem has the more severe symptoms. Health services are now becoming more able to recognise dual diagnosis.
Mental health services are usually reserved for people with severe problems, so dual diagnosis clients with less severe mental health problems may not get treatment. They should, however, be referred to a suitable service. A person with a mental illness may receive treatment, but their drug use problem could be dismissed as a minor side effect of their illness. The number of workers trained in dual diagnosis treatment is slowly increasing. The services for mental health and substance abuse generally don’t overlap, so professionals in one field aren’t knowledgeable about the issues in the other field. It is hard to find professionals who are skilled in treating both substance abuse and mental illness.
Health care providers may blame the client for being difficult and unresponsive to treatment, rather than questioning whether the health care system is failing to provide effective treatments and support for people with dual diagnoses. If a dual diagnosis client first seeks treatment for drug abuse, the drug and alcohol workers may consider their mental illness as a secondary issue or side effect. Similarly, if they first seek treatment for their mental illness, then the mental health professionals may also consider their drug abuse as a secondary issue or side effect. The two problems are often not seen as interdependent and equally important. Specialist and early intervention treatments are often not available. Health care professionals may not involve the family in treatment, even though the family is frequently much more familiar with the problems and experiences of the person with dual diagnosis.
In many cases, it is hard to tell which problem came first. Perhaps the mental illness prompted the person to abuse drugs, or else their drug problem pre-dated their mental illness. The substance use could also worsen the symptoms of the person’s mental illness – for example, smoking marijuana can trigger a psychotic episode in some people.
A recognised problem is that many services for substance abuse and mental illness don’t overlap, which means that the person with dual diagnosis is managed through separate systems. This can make diagnosis and treatment more difficult. Victoria’s specialist mental health and drug and alcohol services are now working together, developing partnerships for the provision of integrated treatment and care of people with dual diagnoses
Diagnosis can be difficult, because it isn’t always clear which problem has the more severe symptoms. Health services are now becoming more able to recognise dual diagnosis.
Mental health services are usually reserved for people with severe problems, so dual diagnosis clients with less severe mental health problems may not get treatment. They should, however, be referred to a suitable service. A person with a mental illness may receive treatment, but their drug use problem could be dismissed as a minor side effect of their illness. The number of workers trained in dual diagnosis treatment is slowly increasing. The services for mental health and substance abuse generally don’t overlap, so professionals in one field aren’t knowledgeable about the issues in the other field. It is hard to find professionals who are skilled in treating both substance abuse and mental illness.
Health care providers may blame the client for being difficult and unresponsive to treatment, rather than questioning whether the health care system is failing to provide effective treatments and support for people with dual diagnoses. If a dual diagnosis client first seeks treatment for drug abuse, the drug and alcohol workers may consider their mental illness as a secondary issue or side effect. Similarly, if they first seek treatment for their mental illness, then the mental health professionals may also consider their drug abuse as a secondary issue or side effect. The two problems are often not seen as interdependent and equally important. Specialist and early intervention treatments are often not available. Health care professionals may not involve the family in treatment, even though the family is frequently much more familiar with the problems and experiences of the person with dual diagnosis.