Dual diagnosis, eating disorders and your drug rehabilitation

Dual diagnosis, eating disorders and your drug rehabilitation

What is the purpose of a drug rehabilitation program?

We all know that the purpose of a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program is to help people suffering from drug addiction or alcoholism achieve long-term sobriety. The first step in drug or alcohol rehab is to review the alcohol or drug detox program. After that, most people move on to drug rehab addiction treatment. After years of research into drug and alcohol rehab programs, we have found that well over half of patients admitted to drug and alcohol rehab have a dual diagnosis.

What is a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program?

Basically, a dual diagnosis is the coexistence of a drug or alcohol addiction and a mental disorder. Therefore, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs have had to adapt their addiction treatment services to treat both conditions simultaneously. But what about the person with an eating disorder as part of the dual diagnosis? Can the person with an eating disorder be treated in a drug or alcohol rehab program?

Treating Eating Disorders in a Drug Rehabilitation Program

As with dual diagnosis treatment in a drug rehab program, addiction treatment services must be modified to meet the needs of the person with an eating disorder. Although the eating disorder patient has a dual diagnosis, their drug rehabilitation needs are different. Before entering a drug or alcohol rehab for treatment of an eating disorder, review their addiction treatment program and see if the drug rehab program is capable of treating someone with a dual diagnosis.

More information about Dual diagnosis treatmentCall the national Dual diagnosis Hotline at1-800-511-9225or go to www.recoveryconnection.org.

Inspired by Jonathan Huttner