Dual Diagnosis
Turning Point of Tampa – Provides Detox, Drug and Alcohol Rehab, Eating Disorder, and Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Tampa Florida.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
We are Ready to Help, Call Now!
Turning Point of Tampa has helped thousands find recovery. As an in-network facility, we are able and committed to helping you find the life you deserve.
Why Trust Turning Point of Tampa for Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
When someone is living with both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time, they need more than a facility that treats one condition and hopes the other resolves on its own. They need a treatment team that genuinely understands how these conditions interact — and has the clinical depth to treat them together.
Turning Point of Tampa has been doing exactly that since 1987. Recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers, our family-owned facility in Tampa has built nearly four decades of experience helping adults across Florida navigate the complexity of co-occurring disorders. We are Joint Commission accredited, ASAM certified at both Level 3.5 (residential) and Level 3.7 (withdrawal management), and licensed to provide the full continuum of care — from medical detox through long-term aftercare — on a single campus.
Our Medical Director, Dr. Hardeep Singh, brings exceptional clinical leadership to our dual diagnosis programs. A Tampa Magazine Top Doctor recognized across multiple years, Dr. Singh is Board Certified in both Adult Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (FASAM), and Certified in Psychopharmacology. His dual expertise means our clients receive truly integrated psychiatric and addiction care — not two separate tracks running alongside each other, but one cohesive treatment plan built around the whole person.
What sets us apart from other dual diagnosis treatment centers in Florida isn’t just our credentials. It’s the fact that when you come through our doors, you stay on one campus with the same clinical team from detox through discharge and beyond. No transfers. No starting over. No repeating your story to a new provider at every level of care. Our single-campus model creates the continuity that integrated treatment genuinely requires.
We are in-network with most major insurance carriers, our admissions team is available 24/7, and our free weekly aftercare groups are available for as long as you need them — for life. Because we’re family-owned, we’re invested in your recovery long after your program ends.
Dual Diagnosis
For many of our clients, substance use disorders or disorders related to eating can also be deeply intertwined with a dual diagnosis (also referred to as a “comorbidity” or “co-occurring disorder”). This means a substance use disorder that occurs at the same time as another mental illness (or multiple mental health conditions). At Turning Point of Tampa, we address dual diagnosis issues. Individuals are treated simultaneously for substance abuse and mental health issues that often factor into their drug abuse or alcohol abuse.
What Is a Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis, as described by the American Psychiatric Association, is the presence of two co-occurring disorders that are present in the same person at the same time. For example, depression can exist alongside one or more substance use disorders like alcohol or drug dependence. A person who struggles with a mental illness as well as alcoholism and/or addiction to prescription or street drugs simultaneously qualifies for a dual diagnosis and will benefit from dual diagnosis treatment.
How prevalent are dual diagnoses?
SAMHSA Study
According to a SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) report on key substance use and mental health indicators, approximately 7.9 million adults in the United States had a dual/co-occurring disorder in 2014\. If your drug abuse exists in addition to a mental illness, treatment programs offered at Turning Point of Tampa are designed specifically for you.
NIDA Study
According to a national survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), nearly 8.4 million adults in the US have both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder, according to the 2012 NSDUH. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that when addiction to drugs or alcohol occurs alongside co-occurring disorders, it can intensify shared risk factors — including entanglement with the criminal justice system and other adverse outcomes.
What does it mean to receive a dual diagnosis?
If you are given a dual diagnosis by a mental health professional, it means you are suffering from both a substance use disorder and another type of mental disorder or mental illness. The mental health issue could include depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress, ADD or ADHD, or any number of other mental health or psychiatric disorders.
Are people with mental illness more likely to suffer from substance abuse disorders?
The simple answer is yes. People with a mental health disorder are much more likely to experience a substance use disorder, and people with a substance use disorder are much more likely to have a mental health disorder. About 45% of Americans seeking substance use disorder treatment have been diagnosed as having a co-occurring mental and substance use disorder. This means that dual diagnosis care is an increasing need for Americans seeking treatment for mental illness and issues with substance use.
People with mental health disorders are more likely than people without mental health disorders to experience an alcohol or substance use disorder. A dual diagnosis can be difficult to diagnose due to the complexity of symptoms, as the symptoms of the mental health condition or the substance use disorder may vary in severity.
Single-diagnosis clinicians overlook dual diagnosis patients
It’s common for a substance use disorder to be treated while a co-occurring mental illness goes unaddressed. Because the symptoms of drug and alcohol abuse often overlap with those of other mental health conditions, clinicians treating a client for substance use may overlook an underlying psychiatric disorder.
The consequences of an undiagnosed or under-treated co-occurring disorder can be dangerous, if not fatal. An integrated treatment model is best for helping clients whose addictive disorders simultaneously present with mental illnesses.
Modern screening tools have made it easier for mental health clinics to detect co-occurring substance use problems and, when warranted, arrive at a dual diagnosis. Clinics oriented primarily toward mental illness, however, may overlook substance use disorders and, as a result, fail to provide dual diagnosis treatment.
Behavioral therapy for mental illness is effective, but if it fails to address a co-occurring disorder with drug use or alcohol use, it has less likelihood of being effective. Turning Point of Tampa is equipped to identify indicators for substance use disorders that exist alongside co-occurring disorders.
What are the signs and symptoms of a dual diagnosis disorder?
Signs and symptoms exhibited depend on the co-occurring disorders in question. Symptoms include those found with a drug or alcohol use disorder as well as those that are indicative of a specific mental health disorder, and the co-occurring mental disorders may compound one another.
Signs of substance use disorder may include:
- Risky behavior (such as risky driving, gambling, or unsafe sex)
- Abrupt personality changes or changes in behavior
- Cravings for drug or alcohol use
- Build-up of tolerance so more is needed to achieve the desired effect
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms if substance is not used
- Social isolation
Dual Diagnosis
Some severe symptoms need immediate attention, including delusions, paranoia, hallucinations, or talk of suicide. Individuals with these symptoms need immediate attention from a qualified mental health professional.
How Co-Occurring Disorders Worsen One Another
Substance abuse and mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety are closely linked, although one does not necessarily directly cause the other. About half of people who have a mental disorder will also have a substance use disorder at some point in their lives and vice versa.
When two disorders co-occur, each can aggravate the other. You may use alcohol or drugs to self-medicate or relieve the pain and stress associated with your mental health condition. Self-medication describes the use of substances to treat symptoms of mental illness, whether the substances are prescription or illicit drugs.
Drug use, such as marijuana or methamphetamine use, can cause prolonged psychotic reactions and exacerbate co-occurring psychotic disorders.
Mental Health Effects of Marijuana
For a person suffering from a mental disorder, marijuana can be seriously problematic. Studies published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) found links between early marijuana use and schizophrenia. Mental Health America has also published data showing that people with psychotic disorders who use marijuana experience more extreme symptoms later in life.
Mental Illness and Alcohol
The National Institute of Health has also found that alcohol abuse can cause depression and anxiety symptoms to worsen. As a depressant substance, alcohol abuse worsens symptoms of depression and can make people more prone to suicidal ideation.
Where to Find Help
By seeking a dual diagnosis licensed provider, you can find someone to guide you through therapeutic treatments and prescribe medication if necessary. You can address your substance addiction and mental health problem simultaneously with the same treatment provider.
Veterans Addiction Assistance
Treatment for Veterans & Active Duty Service Members
Preferred Provider of The Community Care Network
Integrated vs. Non-Integrated Treatment: Understanding the Difference
| Treatment Feature | Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment | Sequential / Non-Integrated Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| How conditions are treated | Both disorders addressed simultaneously by the same clinical team | One disorder treated first; the other addressed later (or not at all) |
| Clinical coordination | Psychiatry, addiction medicine, and therapy fully coordinated | Separate providers with limited communication |
| Risk of missed diagnosis | Lower — screening built into the intake and treatment process | Higher — mental health symptoms may be attributed to substance use alone |
| Relapse risk | Lower — underlying mental health drivers are treated alongside addiction | Higher — untreated mental illness often triggers relapse |
| Care continuity | Consistent team from detox through aftercare | Frequent transitions between providers or facilities |
| Best suited for | Co-occurring substance use + mental health disorders (dual diagnosis) | Single-condition treatment when no co-occurring disorder is present |
| Available at Turning Point of Tampa | ✓ Yes — across all levels of care | ✗ Not our model |
Common Co-Occurring Disorder Combinations We See at Turning Point of Tampa
| Mental Health Disorder | Commonly Co-Occurring Substance | Why They Often Occur Together |
|---|---|---|
| Major Depressive Disorder | Alcohol | Alcohol used to numb emotional pain; worsens depression over time |
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Benzodiazepines / Alcohol | Substances used to manage anxiety; dependency develops quickly |
| PTSD | Opioids / Alcohol | Self-medication of trauma symptoms and hyperarousal |
| Bipolar Disorder | Stimulants / Alcohol | Substances used to regulate mood swings; cycles are intensified |
| Panic Disorder | Benzodiazepines | Prescribed for panic; high potential for misuse and dependence |
| ADHD | Stimulants / Cannabis | Stimulants misused; cannabis used to manage focus or impulsivity |
| Eating Disorders | Alcohol / Stimulants | Substances used to suppress appetite or manage body image anxiety |
These combinations are not exceptions — they’re the norm. This is why the dual diagnosis treatment Florida families depend on must be built for complexity, rather than addressing a single diagnosis in isolation.
What mental health disorders are considered in dual diagnosis?
Any mental illness can qualify a person for dual diagnosis, but these are some of the most common:
Major Depressive Disorders/Episode
Major depressive disorder is a psychiatric condition marked by a persistently low mood or diminished interest in activities, resulting in significant impairment to everyday functioning.
Dysthymia Disorder
Dysthymia is characterized by a low mood occurring for more than two years, along with at least two other symptoms of depression.
Common symptoms include diminished interest in usual activities, low energy, low self-worth, feelings of hopelessness, disrupted sleep, reduced appetite, and difficulty concentrating.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I disorder — historically referred to as manic depression or manic-depressive illness — is a serious psychiatric condition. A defining feature of bipolar I disorder is the occurrence of at least one manic episode over the course of a person’s lifetime. A manic episode is a period of abnormally irritable or elevated mood and high energy, accompanied by abnormal behavior that disrupts your life.
Bipolar II
Bipolar II disorder is a closely related psychiatric condition. Unlike bipolar I, its elevated moods never escalate into full-blown mania. These milder periods of elevation are known as hypomanic episodes, or hypomania.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (or GAD) is marked by exaggerated or excessive worry and anxiety about everyday life events for no apparent or obvious reason.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition in which a person struggles to recover after witnessing or living through a terrifying event. Its symptoms generally fall into four categories: negative changes in mood or thinking, avoidance, intrusive memories, and shifts in physical and emotional reactivity.
Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder is characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks that do not have a reasonable cause and can create great psychological and physical discomfort.
Panic attacks
Panic attacks are sudden, brief, and self-contained episodes of intense dread or fear. They are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, trembling or shaking, dizziness, heart palpitations, hot flashes or chills, sweating, numbness or tingling, and other somatic (bodily) sensations.
Other Mental Health Disorders
Although there are other mental health conditions that may affect the chemically dependent person, 50% or more of the dual diagnoses fall in the mood and/or anxiety category. There are other mental illnesses that you may suffer from in combination with a substance abuse problem.
What is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the handbook used by health care professionals in the United States and much of the world as the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders. DSM contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders.
Levels of Care
At Turning Point of Tampa we offer a comprehensive continuum of care, including primary and extended care programs, intensive outpatient and weekly aftercare groups.
Levels of Care
At Turning Point of Tampa, we provide a comprehensive continuum of care that spans primary and extended care programs, intensive outpatient services, and weekly aftercare groups.
The Best Treatment is at Turning Point of Tampa
Identifying the right program for a co-occurring mental health condition and substance use disorder can be difficult. Turning Point of Tampa is a substance abuse treatment center dedicated to delivering high-quality, 12-Step-based addiction and eating disorder programs that are both affordable and effective. We continually review industry research alongside our own outcomes data so that we can refine our existing programs and develop the most effective approaches available today.
Our treatment programs specialize in treating Addiction, Eating Disorders, and Dual Diagnosis. We are accredited by the Joint Commission and are a licensed provider of detoxification, residential, PHP, and IOP programs.
We strive to create a “life-like” environment, focusing on recovery through responsibility. To date, we have carried the message of long-term recovery to thousands of clients.
Our specific treatments for drug and alcohol use include equine therapy, motivational interviewing, reality therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, accelerated resolution therapy, trauma therapy, and group therapy.
Turning Point of Tampa can also connect you with emotional and social support groups. These support groups include other people who have struggled with substance abuse and the urge to self-medicate. They provide a unique experience to help you follow your treatment program and avoid a relapse.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Florida
What is dual diagnosis treatment, and how does it differ from standard addiction treatment?
Dual diagnosis treatment addresses both a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health condition at the same time, using an integrated clinical approach. Standard addiction treatment programs may focus primarily on the substance use without fully assessing or treating underlying psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder. When only one condition is treated, the untreated disorder often drives relapse. Dual diagnosis treatment centers in Florida — like Turning Point of Tampa — are specifically designed to treat the whole person, not just one diagnosis.
How do I know if I — or someone I love — needs dual diagnosis treatment?
If substance use and emotional or psychological struggles seem closely linked — if anxiety or depression seems to worsen when someone isn’t using, or if substance use seems to be a way of managing mood swings, trauma responses, or intrusive thoughts — a dual diagnosis evaluation is an important first step. Many people have lived with an untreated mental health condition for years without realizing it, using substances to cope. A proper clinical assessment at a licensed dual diagnosis treatment center in Florida can clarify what’s happening and what level of care is needed.
What mental health conditions are most commonly treated alongside addiction at Turning Point of Tampa?
We regularly treat co-occurring conditions including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder (I and II), panic disorder, ADHD, and eating disorders alongside substance use disorders. These combinations are common — research consistently shows that roughly half of people with a substance use disorder will also meet criteria for at least one mental health diagnosis. Our clinical team is trained to assess and treat these conditions together, not separately.
What levels of care does Turning Point of Tampa offer for dual diagnosis clients?
We offer the full continuum of care on a single campus in Tampa, Florida: medical detox with 24/7 clinical monitoring, residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP available up to 7 days per week), intensive outpatient (IOP), standard outpatient, virtual IOP, and recovery residences. Our single-campus model means clients receive integrated dual diagnosis treatment at every level without being transferred to a different facility or starting over with a new care team.
Does Turning Point of Tampa accept insurance for dual diagnosis treatment?
Yes. We are in-network with most major insurance carriers. Our admissions team works with clients and families to verify benefits and explore coverage options before treatment begins. We believe cost should never be the barrier that stands between someone and the care they need, and we’re committed to helping you find a path forward. Reach out to our team any time — admissions is available 24/7.
What makes Turning Point of Tampa one of the best dual diagnosis treatment centers in Florida?
Several things set us apart from other Florida dual diagnosis treatment centers. We’ve been family-owned and operated since 1987 — nearly four decades of integrated treatment without corporate ownership changes. We are Joint Commission accredited, ASAM certified, and recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers. Our Medical Director, Dr. Hardeep Singh, is Board Certified in both Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine — a combination that’s essential for true dual diagnosis care. We specialize in treating addiction, eating disorders, AND dual diagnosis on one campus. And our free weekly aftercare groups are available to clients for life, not just for the duration of their program.
Is dual diagnosis treatment available virtually at Turning Point of Tampa?
Yes. Our Virtual IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program), launched in 2025, extends our dual diagnosis treatment to adults across Florida who face barriers to in-person care — whether due to distance, work schedules, family responsibilities, or other circumstances. Virtual IOP delivers the same evidence-based, 12-Step-integrated clinical programming as our in-person program, with the flexibility of remote access. Contact us today to learn whether virtual IOP is a good fit for your situation.
Learn More About Treatment at Turning Point of Tampa
If you or someone you love is navigating a co-occurring disorder, these resources from our site may help:
If you know someone who is dually diagnosed and needs a safe environment and help, please contact us at 813-882-3003.