Dual Disorders Recovery Achievers (DDRA) Program
What is Dual Diagnosis?
A person who has both an alcohol or drug problem and an emotional/psychiatric problem is said to have a dual diagnosis. Dual Recovery Anonymous defines “dual diagnosis” as meaning that an individual has two separate but very interrelated diagnoses:
1. A psychiatric diagnosis
2. A substance abuse diagnosis which may include both drugs and alcohol
A dual diagnosis occurs when an individual is affected by both chemical dependency and an emotional or psychiatric illness. Both illnesses may affect an individual physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. Each illness has symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to function effectively and relate to themselves and others. Not only is the individual affected by two separate illnesses, both illnesses interact with one another. The illnesses may exacerbate each other and each disorder predisposes to relapse in the other disease. At times the symptoms can overlap and even mask each other making diagnosis and treatment more difficult. To recover fully, the person needs treatment for both problems.
How Common Is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis is more common than you might imagine. According to a report published by The Journal of the American Medical Association:
- 37% of alcohol abusers and 53% of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness
- Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29% percent abuse either alcohol or drugs
A number of years ago, Dr. William Loving, Medical Director at Seton Shoal Creek Hospital in Austin, Texas acknowledged that at least 65% of his hospital patients had two kinds of diseases; a mental or emotional illness in addition to chemical dependency.
What about Dual Disorders Recovery Achievers (DDRA)?
DDRA has become a very important aspect of the Communities for Recovery programs. We facilitate two open DDRA meetings; one at Seton Shoal Creek Hospital and one at Texas Star Recovery.