When a person suffers from a mental illness and has a chemical drug addiction at the same time, or is chemically dependant on two different drugs, it is called dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis can also mean that the sufferer has a personality disorder along with a severe mental illness. Medical care is required immediately to those who are suffering from it.

Dual diagnosis can be any combination of they previously stated problems. Most of the suffering addicts are in treatment, but some are unable to due to being homeless, poor, or being held in prison. When this happens the suffering may never be able to end their case of dual diagnosis.

There are many different classifications of dual diagnosis. These include: MICAA, MISA, MIDAA, CAMI, and CAMI with a substance induced psychotic episode. Each of this classification is serious and uniquely different combination of addition and illness. Some can be stated as pure addiction others are mental illness disorders along with a case of personality disorder, plus a combination of other disorders.

Those who fall under MICAA are those who are mentally ill and have used chemical drugs and become addicted. This form of dual diagnosis does not contain those who are severely mentally ill. MISA is simply the mentally ill who are currently using chemical substance drugs but have not yet become addicted. Those who suffer from the form of dual diagnosis MIDAA have no forms of mental illness. Patients of this disorder suffer from alcoholism and addiction to any sort of drug in addition. CAMI consists of those who continually use chemical drugs, but are not addicted. They also must have a form of mental illness that does not consist of a personality disorder of any kind.

It can be difficult for dual diagnosis to be discovered in those who suffer from out by the people around them. That is because many of the symptoms of sever drug use appear similar to the actions that those who are mentally ill already produce. Unless the family of the mentally ill individual actually catches the person in the act of taking the drug they may never realize exactly why they are acting strangely.

These problems should be dealt with immediately by those who are professionally trained to work with them. They can better understand the needs of the patients and what is best for them. They can walk them through the process of getting clean and starting there life over again after treatment is finished.

The process of ridding dual diagnosis patients of their addictions can be very long and hard. It starts with detoxification, which is the system of cleaning the body of all the toxins that were put there through the use of drugs. It can take as little as three days and as many as seven. Sweating, nausea, vomiting, and cramps can all become symptoms of the process. Drugs can be used to quell the symptoms, but the patient must be monitored extra carefully if they are administered.

Long term residential programs are set up to care for dual diagnosis sufferers. These centers will keep the patients until they are ready to re-enter society. They are prepared to help the patients with each of their unique needs.