Health Fitness

Dual Diagnosis, Eating Disorders and Your Drug Rehab

What is the purpose of a drug rehab program?

We all know that the purpose of a drug or alcohol rehab program is to help those suffering from drug or alcohol addiction achieve long-term sobriety. The initial step in drug or alcohol rehab is to check out your drug or alcohol detox program. Subsequently, most people move on to the addiction treatment level of drug rehab. After many years of research in drug rehab programs and alcohol rehab programs, we have discovered that more than half of patients admitted to drug rehab and alcohol rehab have a dual diagnosis.

What is a dual diagnosis treatment program?

In basic terms, a dual diagnosis is the coexistence of a drug or alcohol addiction and a mental health disorder. As such, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs had to adjust their addiction treatment services to treat both disorders simultaneously. But what about the person with an eating disorder as part of the dual diagnosis? Can a person with an eating disorder be treated in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program?

Treatment of eating disorders in a drug rehabilitation program

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

For additional information on dual diagnosis treatmentcall the national dual diagnosis help line in 1-800-511-9225 or go to www.recoveryconnection.org.

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