Mental health and addiction issues frequently occur together, and the relationship between them is strong enough that treating either one in isolation is simply not enough. Substance use disorders occur alongside mental health issues around 50% of the time, and research has shown that treating substance use without addressing the underlying mental health condition produces worse outcomes than integrated care for both.[1] At All In Solutions, dual diagnosis treatment is not an add-on service — it is an essential part of care.
Mental health and addiction issues frequently occur together, and the relationship between them is strong enough that treating either one in isolation is simply not enough. Substance use disorders occur alongside mental health issues around 50% of the time, and research has shown that treating substance use without addressing the underlying mental health condition produces worse outcomes than integrated care for both.[1] At All In Solutions, dual diagnosis treatment is not an add-on service — it is an essential part of care.
Dual diagnosis, sometimes referred to as co-occurring disorder, is defined as when a person suffers concurrently from both a substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental health condition.[2]
The term “dual diagnosis” was coined in an effort to explain the relationship clinicians were seeing between substance use disorders and mental illness: mostly that addiction rarely occurs in isolation, and that substance use and mental illness are very clearly intertwined and should be addressed together. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 17 million adult Americans suffer from co-occurring disorders.[3] Traditionally, addiction treatment has involved treating the substance use disorder first, followed by addressing mental health after achieving sobriety, which research has shown to provide less than optimal results when compared to an integrated dual diagnosis approach.[4]
Common combinations of co-occurring disorders include alcohol use disorder and depression; benzodiazepine use disorder and anxiety disorders; opioid use disorder and PTSD; substance use disorder and bipolar disorder; and ADHD and stimulant use disorder. All forms of mental illness can co-occur with any substance use disorder, and it is crucial to identify them properly in order to provide appropriate interventions.
The research on dual diagnosis is clear: treating co-occurring disorders with an integrated program has been shown to yield greater outcomes than using sequential or parallel treatment models.[5] Clients in integrated dual diagnosis treatment demonstrate greater treatment engagement, improved mental health outcomes, lower relapse rates, and longer-term recovery when compared to those receiving substance use disorder treatment separately from mental health treatment.[6]
This can easily be explained in that, without treating the mental illness that causes the person to use substances, there is continuous pressure to “self-medicate.” At the same time, without treating the substance use disorder, the damage done to the brain continues to deteriorate the mental illness. Treating both simultaneously within the same program removes the cycle that sustains each condition.
At All In Solutions, the dual diagnosis treatment process consists of:
The goal of treatment is to achieve not just sobriety, but improved mental health with a focus on the whole person. Dual diagnosis treatment at All In Solutions is designed to achieve long-term recovery by addressing the whole person.
Someone who has a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder is referred to as having a dual diagnosis. Also called co-occurring disorders, examples could be someone who is addicted to alcohol and has a major depressive disorder, has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is addicted to opioids, or has bipolar disorder and a substance use disorder. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that approximately 17 million adults in the US have a co-occurring disorder.
Research indicates that the best way to treat a dual diagnosis is to provide integrated treatment for both the substance use disorder and the mental health disorder at the same time using multiple evidence-based therapeutic techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), medication, and peer support — combined with various forms of addiction treatment, so that a person can find and maintain recovery from both disorders at the same time.
If someone is treated for a substance use disorder and the underlying mental health disorder(s) that caused it are not addressed, they are at high risk for relapse. Studies show that those with a dual diagnosis generally do better than someone who receives sequential treatment for either their mental health disorder or their substance use disorder.
A dual diagnosis can only be determined by a licensed mental health or substance use disorder professional based on a clinical assessment. If someone has a history of substance use and mental health symptoms (regardless of which came first), they should have an assessment completed to determine if they have a dual diagnosis. The intake coordinators at All In Solutions can help to navigate the assessment and treatment process.
Yes. Each of All In Solutions’ facilities and levels of care provide blended treatment as part of their continuum of care. All clients entering an All In Solutions facility will receive a full medical and mental health assessment and will be provided a treatment plan that contains dual diagnosis treatment whenever indicated.
Whether you or a loved one is seeking inpatient treatment, a partial hospitalization program, or outpatient support, All In Solutions has the clinical expertise and the full continuum of care to meet you where you are. Our admissions team is available around the clock to answer your questions and help you take the next step.
[1] [2] Cleveland Clinic. (2025, August 5). Dual diagnosis (co-occurring disorders): Causes & treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24426-dual-diagnosis
[3] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt35325/NSDUHFFRPDFWHTMLFiles2020/2020NSDUHFFR102121.htm
[4] [5] [6] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Substance use disorder treatment for people with co-occurring disorders. https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep20-06-04-006.pdf
