If you spend much time in the world of substance abuse, you’re bound to come across the term "dual diagnosis". It also turns up frequently in mental health agencies, homeless shelters and social welfare offices. It is used as a catch-all term for people who are involved in more than one aspect of "the system". But it’s meaning is intended to be much more succint.

The term actually refers to an individual who suffers from both a mental health problem and a drug addiction. Although these two problems may combine to create other problems (such as homelessness), they are the core foundation of the dual diagnosis. And it’s a difficult diagnosis to have. That’s because one part feeds the other part in a seemingly endless cycle.

Although living with a dual diagnosis problem is difficult, the hardest part for many people is trying to negotiate the social welfare system. Substance abuse agencies want to push "the problem" (the addict) on to the mental health agencies. In turn, the mental health agencies say that the individual needs drug rehab before they can get mental health help. It’s a Catch-22. And it’s causing a big crack in society that many people are falling through.

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