Doctors and clinicians do experience problems with properly diagnosing the occurrence of substance abuse in your troubled teenager. Several methods may be applied in the diagnosis. These may be empirical, like medical tests for urine and blood samples or through obtaining vital information of the patient’s history from those close to the child, like school teachers, parents, or peers. Observation of present actions or behavioral patterns may also be used.

Difficulty may particularly ensue when your child suffers not only from substance abuse but from a psychiatric disorder as well. When this is the case, a dual diagnosis may be deliberated upon. For complete recovery, both issues must be tackled and relative treatment must occur. Research has shown that substance abuse and psychiatric disorders frequently occur simultaneously or one may lead to the other. For example, disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Obesessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may lead to abuse of prescribed medication; while substance abuse can concurrently exist with disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.

It is suggested to center treatment on the symptoms of substance abuse while co-treating the psychiatric disorder if dual diagnosis occurs. Stabilization of the patient’s physical health must be achieved before focusing treatment for the psychiatric disorder.

The following are aspects to consider regarding substance abuse treatment:

The prescription of medication can depend on dual diagnosis. If a co-existing psychiatric disorder is identified then medication may be prescribed accordingly. Other approaches for treatment can simultaneously be given with medication. Some commonly prescribed medications for substance abuse treatment are the following:

Treatment starts with the detoxification of the patient. This depends on the acuteness of the substance dependence and may be accomplished in either an inpatient or outpatient process. After initial detoxification other approaches of treatment may follow: