Planning Dual-Diagnosis Treatment
The Plan for Overcoming Dual-Diagnosis (MICA)
Questions asked to design a plan for dual-diagnosis (mentally ill and chemically abusing) treatment are based around six areas. The first is housing and living arrangements. Another vocational or educational. Health issues are then addressed. Leisure time activity are incorporated to find sober outlets. Social support such as family and friends are included. Finally, personal goals and assets are addressed to build a future.
Though only silghtly different areas, the treatment plan in a strictly chemical dependency center address these six areas: The first has to do with withdrawal and substance honesty. Second is the physical. Third is the emotional. Fourth is attitude and willingness to recover and motivation toward treatment. Fifth is relapse prevention. Six is the recovery environment, which includes legal, housing, recreation, work, school and family and friends. When a person graduates they are given a discharge summary for further outside help or continue in self healing.
Planning and Finding Treatment for Addiction
There are special county funds for dual-diagnosis (chemically dependency and mental illness). Adatsa is one funding plan for alcoholics, addicts who are homeless or have no income. Treatment cannot be denied, because addiction is classified as a disease. For those with mental health issues there are Social Security and other plans for clients who are able to function, but not work. There are also many family plans to assist low income families with children and give medical coupons to pay for treatment.
Case management is a way of linking community programs together so a client is able to obtain all the benefits available. There are sober houses, battered woman's shelters and free work training programs. Some of these services also include free day care while clients are training. All of these issues need to be addressed, because without the basic life needs met, a person is more inclined to become hopeless, suicidal or relapse.
Also, crime can be a problem for addicts, since their first need and preoccupation with drugs must be meat until in treatment. There are free county detoxification programs that offer urgent medical care. It is important to be aware many of the county systems are available so those in need will not think it is impossible to get help which can lead to deeper pain and loss.
If you have a loved one who needs helpfor addiction or dual-diagnosis and you have done all you can, contacting county offices to find available help is a good option. Also, trying to get the person to take an assessment (both mental health and addiction), or completing an informational assessment on their behalf, may help determine the level of need. (An informational assessment requires no names, and can be taken multiple times to adjust for areas you may not know the answer to.)
Similarities of Addiction, Dual-diagnosis and Mental Illness
The reason there is emphasis on mental health with chemical dependency is that they intermix with each other and both must be treated. Similarities are :
A biological illness.
Genetic.
Chronic.
Not curable.
Symptoms can be controlled, abstinence and medication with mental health.
Denial of disease.
Affects the family.
Progressive if not treated.
Leads to out of control behavior.
Often given a stigma or a moral degradation.
Feelings of shame and guilt.
Both affect the physical, emotional, spiritual and social areas of life.
* It is always recommended that you get an official medical diagnosis since the authors of our site are not physicians or psychiatrists. There are excellent books on managing both dual-diagnosis and mental illness, just as the ones displayed in our other subjects. Learning on your own and taking steps yourself is a key to openness to overcome a life or hardship and pain.
