Starting a Dual Diagnosis Anonymous Meeting: The Role of the Clinician

ABSTRACT

Due to the symptoms of mental illness, some individuals are not accepted or find it very difficult to engage in traditional 12-step groups, the most widely available peer support groups for substance abuse/addiction. This paper describes the collaboration between a mental health professional and 12-step group members in the formation of a specialized 12-step meeting, Dual Diagnosis Anonymous. An overview of specialized 12-step groups is provided, difficulties the author encountered during the formation of the meeting are described, and specific recommendations for clinician involvement based on the author's experience are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Dual diagnosis
• co-occurring disorders
• dual diagnosis anonymous
• mental illness
• 12-steps
• substance abuse
• addiction

Sean Roush,OTR/L,QMHP, is the occupational therapist at theYamhill County Abacus Program in McMinnville, OR, the psychosocial, psycho-educational, and vocational treatment program for individuals diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness in Yamhill County. He is a 1997 graduate of Pacific University's School of Occupational Therapy and a 2007 Occupational Therapy Doctorate graduate of Creighton University, Omaha, NE.

The author would like to thank Corbett M. of Dual Diagnosis Anonymous for his guidance and wisdom in the development of this manuscript.