dual diagnosis | ohio community health recovery centers
dual diagnosis | ohio community health recovery centers

Dual Diagnosis Definition

Dual diagnosis is when an individual suffers from both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. The addiction and mental health conditions often work together to make the situation go from bad to worse. They can exacerbate addiction symptoms, lead to deeper mental health problems, and more.

Common Forms of Dual Diagnosis

There are many different types of dual diagnosis that someone may suffer from. Here are some of the most common combinations:

  • Depression and alcoholism
  • Anxiety and drug addiction
  • Bipolar disorder and cocaine addiction
  • Borderline personality disorder and alcohol abuse
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder and marijuana abuse

It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, as there are many other possible combinations.

dual diagnosis | ohio community health recovery centers

Benefits of Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis offers a full-picture, comprehensive approach to treating addiction. Many individuals who struggle with substance use disorder also struggle with mental health disorders, with many root causes overlapping such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health disorders.

Because addiction and mental health can so often be entangled, it’s important that the two are treated together, rather than as separate issues for the best results and higher chances of sustained recovery. 

The benefits of dual diagnosis treatment include:

  • Addresses root causes
  • Higher chances of sustained recovery
  • Provides healthier coping mechanisms
  • Customized approach for each individual’s needs
dual diagnosis | ohio community health recovery centers

Causes of Dual Diagnosis

There is not one specific cause of dual diagnosis. Instead, there are a variety of different factors that can contribute to the development of both a mental health disorder and an addiction. These factors can include:

Genetic disposition: Some people are simply more likely to develop a mental illness or an addiction because of their genes. If you have a family history of either problem, you may be more likely to suffer from them as well.

Early life trauma: Traumatic experiences in childhood can lead to both mental health problems and addictions later in life.

Poor coping skills: If you don’t have healthy coping mechanisms, you may turn to drugs or alcohol to deal with your problems. This can then, in turn, lead to addiction.

Now, what can you do if you or someone you love is dealing with a dual diagnosis problem. Let’s take a look at what you can expect and how to find the best dual diagnosis treatment near you.

Common Forms of Dual Diagnosis

There are many different types of dual diagnosis that someone can deal with. Here are some of the common combinations:

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Depression and Alcoholism

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Anxiety and Drug Addiction

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Bipolar and Cocaine

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Borderline and Alcoholism

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OCD and Marijuana Abuse

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PTSD and Opioid Abuse

people at an ohio recovery center's dual diagnosis treatment program
people at an ohio recovery center's dual diagnosis treatment program

Dual Diagnosis & Co-Occuring Disorder Treatment Center Ohio

Finding a good dual diagnosis treatment centers in Ohio can feel difficult, especially if this is new to you. But SAMHSA has a great treatment locator tool that can assist you along the way. That said, if you are searching for treatment in Ohio, our team at Ohio Community Health Recovery Centers is one phone call away. Now, what should you expect at this type of treatment program?

The first step in dual diagnosis treatment is to get a proper assessment. This will help you and your team of providers understand what’s going on and come up with the best plan for you.

Once you have a diagnosis, you can start working on a treatment plan. This will likely involve therapy, medication, and support groups. It’s important to find a team of providers that you trust and feel comfortable with.

If you have co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate, reach out to our dual diagnosis treatment ohio team today and get your new life started.

Other Treatments

Learn more about other types of common addictions people deal with.

Drug
Addiction

Opiate
Addiction

Alcohol
Addiction

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Christopher Glover CDCA

My name is Christopher Glover, and I am from Cincinnati, Ohio. I am currently in school and working to grow in competence to better support our community. As a recovering individual I know the struggles that you or a loved one can go through and that there is help for anything you may be struggling with.

The hardest part is asking for help and we are here as a team to best support you and your decision to start your journey towards a better future. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

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Amanda Kuchenberg PRS CDCA

I recently joined Ohio Community Health Recovery Centers as a Clinical Case Manager. I am originally from Wisconsin but settled in the Cincinnati area in my early 20s.  My career started in the fashion industry but quickly changed as I searched to find my drive and passion through helping others who struggle with addiction. 

As someone who is also in recovery, I wanted to provide hope, share lived experience, and support others on their journey.  I currently have my Peer Recovery Support Supervision Certification along with my CDCA and plan to continue my education with University of Cincinnati so I can continue to aid in the battle against substance addiction. Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn.

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Patrick McCamley LCDC III

 Patrick McCamley (Clinical Therapist) is a Cincinnati native who has worked in substance use disorder/co-occurring mental health disorder treatment since 2019. Patrick received his bachelors degree in psychology from University of Cincinnati in 2021 and received his LCDC III (Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor) license from the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board in 2022. Patrick has worked in Clinical Operations, Clinical Case Management, and Clinical Therapy throughout his career.

Patrick has tremendous empathy and compassion for the recovery community, being in recovery himself since 2018. Patrick is uniquely qualified to be helpful because of the specific combination of his academic background and his own experience in recovery.

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Bill Zimmerman CDCA

Bill Zimmerman is a Greater Cincinnati Area native who has worked in substance use disorder/co-occurring mental health disorder treatment since 2018. Bill received his (Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant) license from the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board in 2020.

Bill has worked in Clinical Operations in both support and supervision, and Program facilitating and 12 step recovery support during his career. Bill has a passion for the recovery community, having been in recovery himself since 1982. Connect with Bill on LinkedIn

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Taylor Lilley CDCA, PRS

Growing up in Louisiana with addiction running rampant on both sides of my family. A life away from drugs and alcohol seemed impossible for someone like me. I remember what it was like sitting across from someone thinking there is no way they could ever understand what I was going through.

Sharing my experience offers a credibility and a certain type of trust with clients that only someone who has walked down this road can illustrate. To immerse myself further into the field of addiction, I am currently studying at Cincinnati State for Human and Social Services.  I hope I never forget where I came from, if I can do it, so can you!

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Thomas Hunter LSW

Hello my name is Thomas Hunter. I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am a licensed social worker.In my scope of practice I have worked in the areas of mental health and recovery for thirty years. The clients I have worked with in my career have ranged in age from seven to seventy.

I strive each day to serve my purpose of helping those in need and I believe I do so by utilizing all of my experiences to accomplish my goal of supporting those who desire to establish their sobriety and maintain it in their recovery. Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn.

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Mary D.Porter,LICDC

 My name is Mary D. Porter. I received my Masters of Social Work in 2008 from The University of Cincinnati. I received My Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor Licensure in 2001. I retired from The Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center on April 14, 2014. Currently, I am the Associate Clinical Director for The Ohio Community Health Recovery Centers in Cincinnati.. Due to the fourth wave of the Opioid Epidemic in 2019,  I decided to enter back into the workforce to assist the addicted population.

The overdoses were astounding and I wanted to help.  I consider myself  to be an advocate for the addicted population. My compassion, resilience, empathy, wisdom, knowledge, experience and  love I have for this forgotten population goes beyond words. I consider what I do for the addicted population as a calling versus a “career,” because I too was once an “addict and alcoholic.” Today I am 45.5 years alcohol and substance free.

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Ben Lemmon LCDC III

Hello, my name is Ben Lemmon, and I’m the Vice President and Clinical Director at Ohio Community Health Recovery Centers. I’ve been working in the addiction and mental health field since 2013 and decided to enter the field after overcoming my own challenges with addiction.

When I first meet a client, I always explain to them that the reason we are meeting is because they are not capable of obtaining or maintaining sobriety, and my goal is to create a person that can maintain sobriety. I believe a person’s personality is made up of their thoughts, feelings and actions and my job is to help clients identify the thoughts, feelings and actions that have them disconnected from recovery and provide them with the tools to live a healthy and happy life. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn