Mental health treatment has become an essential component of the treatment of substance abuse disorders, because many people with an addiction disorder struggle with a co-occurring mental health disorder. The necessity for dual diagnosis treatment has become more and more evident over the last several years, and many rehab facilities in Mayo now provide dual diagnosis rehabilitation as part of a wider range of services over and above traditional and more progressive treatment for addiction.
In many instances, mental health treatment involves the initial diagnosis of the person's disorder, especially when substance abuse is involved. Often, the individual doesn't initially even know they have an undiagnosed anxiety disorder or are struggling with depression until it is discovered in a mental health physician's office or treatment facility. Once diagnosed, treatment steps can be completed to help the individual resolve issues and become more stable, and this can incorporate the use of certain counseling, therapies, and perhaps medication administration or cessation of medication. In many instances however, clients suffering with a dual diagnosis are self-medicating with substance use or possibly misusing their medications. In these circumstances, professional staff and medical practitioners can assess medication records and suggest steps which can be put forth to remove the need for medication. Patients can be harmlessly weaned off of medications which are doing more harm than good, or those which they are inclined to abuse.