Dual Diagnosis Program

Our qualified staff are trained in both mental health and drug addiction treatment and we have a long history of successfully treating complex addictions.

At the Hader Clinic Queensland we provide a specialist treatment program for dual diagnosis clients. Our qualified staff are trained in both mental health and drug addiction treatment and we have a long history of successfully treating complex addictions.

What is dual diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis is a situation in which an individual is dealing with both a drug addiction and a mental illness at the same time. For example, a person struggling both with depression and cannabis addiction. Both conditions can be intrinsically linked together that neither issue can be treated effectively without treating the other.

What came first?

With dual diagnosis it is often hard to know what came first, the addiction or the mental health issue. Which is the cause, and which is the effect?

With some residents we find the drug addiction came first and, as a result, the mental illness followed. In other cases, mental illness led to the drug use and addiction. There are other times both occurred at the same time.

Dual treatment

A common 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. At the Hader Clinic Queensland we provide both mental health and drug addiction programs to overcome this difficulty.

Our therapists and counsellors work closely with dual diagnosis residents to determine if one problem led to the other.

For example, we often treat residents suffering from both alcohol addiction and depression. Some prescription medication typically used to treat depression could have adverse effects on alcohol recovery and medications used to control alcohol withdrawal symptoms could contribute to depression.

By treating the addiction, the symptoms of the mental illness will improve.

Signs of Dual Diagnosis

There are certain signs you can look for that will help you identify a case of dual diagnosis:

• May be alienated and lack support from family and friends
• Won’t cooperate with their health care providers
• Is very emotional
• Is likely to have severe psychological symptoms
• May be homeless or moving frequently from one place of residence to another
• Is likely to relapse
• May be hospitalised or taken to accident and emergency departments reasonably often

Issues for People with Dual Diagnosis and Their Families

The lack of professional knowledge about dual diagnosis can be frustrating for those affected and their families. Common experiences may include:

• 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.

Treatment

At the Hader Clinic Queensland, we provide a safe and calm environment for people in need of dual diagnosis treatment and a holistic recovery program. As dual diagnosis can be complicated, on admission a detailed assessment and medical examination is undertaken to ensure that a safe and effective treatment process is established immediately.

We encourage you to now give one of our trained staff a call on 1300 856 847 (or via email here) to organise a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our qualified helpers who can give you more information on treatment options.