Falling through the cracks: Yul Whitney and dual diagnosis

Dual diagnosis occurs when a person have both a mental problem and a substance abuse issue. For psychologists like Yul Whitney, many people who face dual diagnosis factors are in double jeopardy as each element in the duality contribute to the worsening of the other.

Yul Whitney Image Credit: alcohol.addictionblog.org

Though separate in terms of diagnoses, mental health issues and substance abuse problems are in fact interrelated, and each feeds off the other; psychiatric problems can be masked with alcohol or substance abuse, and alcohol and substance use can mimic the symptoms of having a mental disorder.

Yul Whitney Image Credit: mentaldisorderslist.org

What is troubling is that there are no “red flags” to indicate that a person who is suffering from a mental disorder is also a substance abuser. According to psychologists like Yul Whitney, it is this factor that causes many patients suffering from dual diagnosis to fall through the cracks of tests for either treating mental disorders or addressing substance abusers, and is regarded primarily as causing relapses in a patient.

Yul Whitney Image Credit: paloverdevalleytimes.com

For people with substance abuse problems, the initial step is to undergo a period of detoxification, under strict medical supervision, for the body to rid itself of the substances and alcohol in its system. After detoxification, a dual treatment program will be conducted to address the issues that may have contributed to the substance abuse issue and the development of the mental disorder of the patient.  

For more information about Yul Whitney, check out this Twitter page.