- Reviewed By Dr. Lawrence S. Wilson, MD, MRO, ABAM, FASAM
- Published 10/13/2016
- Updated 08/17/2026
Receiving a dual diagnosis can be daunting, but it leads to better care and treatment when dealing with addiction. The proper treatment program will treat the underlying causes of addiction, such as mental health conditions that can sometimes lead to addiction.
If you or someone you love is dealing with a dual diagnosis of a mental health condition and a substance use disorder, there is hope. Contact us today at 813.630.4673 to learn more about our specialty services in Tampa, Florida that support dual diagnoses.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment at a Glance
| What it is | Integrated dual diagnosis treatment for a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time |
| Also called | Co-occurring disorder treatment |
| Where | Tampa, Florida |
| Levels of care | Detoxification, residential, PHP, IOP, outpatient, aftercare |
| Core methods | Behavioral therapy, holistic therapy, medication-assisted treatment |
| Guiding framework | The seven dimensions of wellness |
| Phone | 813.630.4673 |
What Is a Dual Diagnosis?
A dual diagnosis is established when a substance use disorder (SUD) exists in conjunction with a mental disorder. The human body and brain are incredibly complex. Often, the mental disorder exists simultaneously or precedes and contributes to the development of the addiction.
Once established, the addictive disorder can worsen the mental condition. It is also well established that addictive disorders can, in fact, cause and mimic the psychiatric condition and will disappear in time once the SUD is appropriately addressed and treated.
What Conditions Commonly Occur in a Dual Diagnosis?
A host of disorders and symptoms lead to a dual diagnosis, including, but not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Eating disorder
- Panic disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Social phobia
It is often difficult to establish which came first—substance use disorder or the behavioral or psychiatric disorder. Even if you or your loved one has no awareness of any underlying conditions, our professionals are trained to recognize symptoms that can lead to a diagnosis.
Frequently, patients find that, after detoxification, their secondary illness comes to light. At other times, symptoms disappear after engaging in treatment and the path to recovery. Our caring professionals will be able to recognize the symptoms and establish or rule out a dual diagnosis.
Common Dual Diagnosis Pairings We Treat
Some combinations of addiction and mental illness appear far more often than others. Each pairing below has its own treatment considerations, and each is addressed inside our dual diagnosis treatment program at 7 Summit Pathways.
Anxiety and Substance Use
Alcohol and benzodiazepines quiet anxiety in the short term and intensify it over time. Our anxiety treatment program works alongside your addiction care so the relief you are chasing no longer depends on a substance.
Depression and Substance Use
Depression can precede an addiction, follow it, or both. Our depression treatment program treats the mood disorder as a condition in its own right rather than a side effect of substance use.
Bipolar Disorder and Substance Use
Substance use during a manic or depressive episode complicates diagnosis and destabilizes mood further. Our bipolar disorder therapy pairs psychiatric oversight with addiction treatment so both are managed together.
PTSD, Trauma, and Substance Use
Unresolved trauma is one of the most common drivers of addiction, and substances become a way to manage symptoms that will not resolve on their own. Our PTSD treatment program and trauma therapy program address the underlying event, not only the coping behavior.
Personality Disorders and Substance Use
Personality disorders shape how a person relates to treatment itself, which is why standard addiction programs often fail. Our personality disorder treatment program adapts the clinical approach to fit how you engage with care.
Whichever pairing fits your situation, dual diagnosis treatment addresses both halves of it at the same time.
Substances We Treat Alongside Mental Health Conditions
A dual diagnosis can involve any substance, and dual diagnosis treatment adapts to whichever one is involved. Our clinical team treats co-occurring mental health conditions alongside addiction to:
Your dual diagnosis treatment plan addresses the substance, the withdrawal, and the mental health condition as one clinical picture rather than three separate problems.
Are There Any Symptoms of a Dual Diagnosis?
Going through the grips of a SUD or watching a loved one suffer can be blinding. Families and loved ones, in their despair, can sometimes ignore the symptoms or believe it will get better once they stop their use. You or your loved one may have a dual diagnosis if the following symptoms are present:
- A family history of psychological, neurological, or physiological disorders
- Extreme mood swings
- Inability to control moods
- Inability to keep a job
- Inability to maintain long-term relationships
- Legal issues
- Financial problems
While these symptoms may just be a symptom of the addictive disorder, their persistence during treatment and early recovery is a crucial indicator of an underlying dual diagnosis. Assessing your own mental health or that of a loved one is nearly impossible, especially in the throes of an addiction. A trained professional must perform a continuing assessment and diagnosis to allow for proper treatment.
Supporting a Loved One With a Dual Diagnosis
Watching someone you love struggle with addiction and mental illness at once is its own kind of exhausting. Families often ignore the symptoms or believe things will improve once the substance use stops.
You cannot assess a loved one’s mental health from the outside, especially in the middle of an active addiction. A trained professional has to do that.
What you can do is make the call. Our family therapy program brings you into your loved one’s dual diagnosis treatment rather than leaving you outside it.
How Do You Treat A Dual Diagnosis?
After detoxification, our professionals will develop your individualized plan of care. This plan will account for treating substance use disorder and other conditions.
If the second condition has not yet presented itself, our professionals will continue to modify your plan when it does. As our trained counselors work with you towards recovery, they will constantly evaluate the treatment plan, communicate with our medical staff, and adapt it to best fit you.
Our plans are not a one-size-fits-all or a one-and-done philosophy. We know you are unique, and our doctors will ensure that your plan is tailored to serve your recovery best.
Integrated vs. Non-Integrated Treatment
Most people who relapse after rehab did not fail treatment. They completed a program that treated the addiction and left the condition fueling it untouched.
Integrated dual diagnosis treatment puts both conditions under one clinical team and one plan of care. Non-integrated treatment separates them, and the separation is where recovery breaks down.
| Integrated treatment | Non-integrated treatment | |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical team | One team treating both conditions | Separate providers, separate records |
| Treatment plan | A single plan of care covering both | Two plans that may contradict each other |
| Diagnosis | Continuous reassessment as conditions surface | Fixed at intake, rarely revisited |
| Mental health condition | Treated as a primary condition | Treated as a side effect, or deferred |
| Between levels of care | Plan follows you; no restart | Often means starting over |
| Common outcome | Both conditions managed together | Relapse when the untreated condition resurfaces |
That is the difference between a program that works on the addiction and a program that works on the reason for it.
Every level of care at 7 Summit Pathways uses integrated dual diagnosis treatment, so your plan holds together as your needs change.
Who Our Dual Diagnosis Program Is For
Our dual diagnosis treatment program serves adults in Tampa and across Florida who are living with both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition, whether or not that second condition has been formally diagnosed.
We welcome men and women from all walks of life, and we offer dedicated programming for men, for women, and for working professionals.
If you are unsure whether your situation fits, that is what the assessment is for. Call 813.630.4673 and our admissions team will tell you honestly, including if another level of care would serve you better.
Does Insurance Cover Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
Cost should not decide whether you get help for co-occurring disorders. 7 Summit Pathways offers a verification of benefits so you know what your plan covers before dual diagnosis treatment begins.
Our admissions team reviews your policy and explains your coverage in plain language.
What Determines the Cost of Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
Cost depends on three things: the level of care you start in, how long you need it, and what your insurance plan covers.
A verification of benefits answers all three before you commit to anything. Call 813.630.4673 and our admissions team will walk you through your numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Co-Occurring Disorders
Answers to the questions our admissions team hears most about dual diagnosis treatment in Tampa.
What is the difference between dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders?
They describe the same thing. Both terms mean a substance use disorder and a mental health condition are present at the same time, and both call for integrated dual diagnosis treatment.
Which condition gets treated first?
Neither is treated in isolation. Our individualized plan of care addresses the substance use disorder and the mental health condition together.
Do I need a diagnosis before I call?
No. Our professionals are trained to recognize symptoms and can establish or rule out a dual diagnosis during assessment.
Can a dual diagnosis be identified after detox?
Yes. Patients frequently find that a secondary illness comes to light after detoxification, and your plan is modified when it does.
What if my symptoms go away in treatment?
That happens. Some symptoms disappear once the substance use disorder is appropriately addressed and treated.
How long does dual diagnosis treatment take?
It depends on your level of care and how your plan evolves. Because our continuum runs from detoxification through aftercare, your timeline is set by clinical need rather than a fixed program length.
Is dual diagnosis treatment more effective than treating addiction alone?
Treating only the addiction leaves the condition fueling it in place, which is why many people relapse after programs that ignore the underlying issue. Integrated care addresses both.
Do I have to complete detox before starting dual diagnosis treatment?
In most cases the plan of care is developed after detoxification, because a second condition often becomes clear once withdrawal is behind you. Our admissions team will tell you where to start.
Can outpatient treatment handle a dual diagnosis?
Yes. Our intensive outpatient program and outpatient treatment program both deliver integrated care, which is why many people step down into them rather than leaving treatment entirely.
Can you treat a dual diagnosis without medication?
It depends on the conditions involved and your clinical assessment. Medication-assisted treatment is one of three approaches we use, alongside behavioral therapy and holistic therapy, and your plan is built around what you need.
Will my employer or family find out?
Your treatment is confidential. Our professionals’ program exists specifically for people whose work makes privacy a condition of getting help at all.
What happens if my mental health condition was never diagnosed?
Nothing changes about your ability to start. Our professionals are trained to recognize symptoms and will establish or rule out a co-occurring disorder as part of your ongoing assessment.
Is dual diagnosis the same as having two addictions?
No. A dual diagnosis means one substance use disorder and one mental health condition. Two substances alone is still a single substance use disorder.
Where is your dual diagnosis treatment program located?
Our dual diagnosis treatment program is located in Tampa, Florida. Call 813.630.4673 to speak with our admissions team.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center. Tampa, Florida
You may be feeling hopeless, scared, alone, and wondering how it got this bad. It’s common to feel afraid to let anyone know, and your life has become a big secret. You want your challenges to end, but you don’t know how.
Our experienced clinical staff and physicians have spent a lifetime helping thousands. We know what it takes and are dedicated to giving you what works. Contact us at 813.630.4673 to help improve your life.
Reviewed for Medical Accuracy By:
Dr. Wilson has more than 20 years of experience treating addiction after completing his fellowship at the University of Florida. He has been part of our treatment team since our inception in 2015 and is our medical director and CEO.