Dual diagnosis treatment in Dallas: care for both conditions
When addiction and a mental health condition happen together.
The short answer
Dual diagnosis treatment in Dallas means care for addiction and a mental health condition at the same time. You may also hear the term co-occurring disorders. It means the same thing.
When to ask about dual diagnosis care
- You feel low or anxious most days
- You use substances to cope with how you feel
- You have a mental health diagnosis
If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 at any hour. If you are in danger, call 911.
What usually happens
- Screening for both conditions
- A plan that covers both
- Counseling, and medication if needed
What dual diagnosis means
SAMHSA says many adults have both a mental illness and a substance use disorder, and that having two or more disorders can make diagnosis and treatment harder. A substance use disorder is the medical term for addiction. The mental health conditions that often overlap with it include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, known as PTSD.
Neither condition is a personal failing. Some people use alcohol or drugs to cope with how they feel. For others, substance use comes first, or makes symptoms worse. Often it is hard to tell which came first, and a person does not need to know that to get help.
It can take time to sort out which symptoms come from substance use and which come from a mental health condition. Some symptoms may ease as use stops, and others may not. Keep your providers up to date on how you feel.
Why treating both matters
NIDA says it is usually better to treat these conditions at the same time rather than separately. SAMHSA calls this integrated treatment. It says care can be delivered in three ways: coordinated between providers, in the same location, or fully combined in one program. SAMHSA also says early detection and integrated treatment can improve quality of life.
A person with both conditions may need care from more than one kind of professional. That can include a psychiatrist, who is a doctor who treats mental health conditions, and a licensed addiction counselor. Ask who would be on your team and how they share information with each other. Family can help by sharing changes they notice in mood or sleep, if the person agrees.
How to find this care in Dallas
Dual diagnosis care is not a level of care on its own. It can happen in residential treatment, intensive outpatient or outpatient treatment. Our program data does not track this service reliably, so there is no list on this page. Some descriptions on the Dallas programs list mention mental health care. Confirm the details with each program by phone.
The SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 is free, open all day and night, and can point you to programs. In Dallas County, the OSAR line at 844-275-0600 offers screening and referral for substance use.
Questions to ask on the phone
- Do you treat mental health and addiction together?
- Is a psychiatrist on your team?
- Can I keep taking my current medication?
- Do you take my insurance?
Common questions
Do I need to stop using before I get mental health care?
Not always. Treatment for both can often start together. Tell any provider the full picture, so they can plan safely. If you take medication, keep taking it as prescribed and talk to your prescriber before making any change.
Can I keep taking my mental health medication in treatment?
Ask the program before you start. Many programs work with your prescriber, but rules differ. Do not stop a prescribed medication on your own.
What if a program only treats addiction?
Ask how it coordinates with mental health providers. A program can work with an outside provider if it does not offer mental health care itself. See questions to ask.
Does insurance cover dual diagnosis care?
Many plans cover both addiction and mental health care, but coverage varies. Call the number on your card and ask. See using private insurance.
