Nov

Dual Recovery Anonymous

Illnes can wear many masks

Dual Recovery Anonymous is an independent, nonprofessional, twelve step, self-help fellowship organization for people with a dual diagnosis. Our goal is to help men and women who experience a dual illness. We are chemically dependent (alcoholic / addict) and we are also affected by an emotional or psychiatric illness. Both illnesses affect us in all areas of our lives; physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually.

The many terms of dual disorders

The term dual diagnosis is often used interchangeably with the terms co-morbidity, co-occurring illnesses, concurrent disorders, comorbid disorders, co-occurring disorder, dual disorder, and, double trouble. Professional literature has used a confusing array of terms and acronyms to describe co-occurring disorders or a dual diagnosis.

Many problems

Individuals who experience a dual diagnosis often face a wide range of psychosocial issues and may experience multiple interacting illnesses (more than two). The term “co-occurring disorders” is becoming a common term used to refer to dual diagnosis, or co-occurring substance abuse disorders and psychiatric or emotional illnesses.

Dual Recovery Anonymous defines “dual diagnosis” as meaning that an individual has two separate but very interrelated diagnoses:

A psychiatric diagnosis
A substance abuse diagnosis which may include both drugs and alcohol

An individual is in dual recovery when they are actively following a program that focuses on their recovery needs for both their chemical dependency and their psychiatric illness.

Our Second Tradition states that: “D.R.A. has two requirements for membership;

a desire to stop using alcohol and other intoxicating drugs, and
a desire to manage our emotional or psychiatric illness in a healthy and constructive way.”

More at; Dual Recovery Anonymous