Dual Diagnosis (literally a “double diagnosis” of someone or something) occurs when an individual is decided to be suffering both from substance abuse as well as a mental disorder of any kind—i.e.: depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc.  Occasionally these types of behavior are observed prior to substance abuse, but most of the time substance abuse wreaks such havoc physically that it can bring about such irrational behaviors as mentioned above. Addressing both the substance abuse as well as these behaviors is good in the sense that it puts some focus on the underlying issues of why a person is using drugs/alcohol. However, where it becomes dangerous and ineffective is the utilization of medication to do so.
 
A good drug/alcohol treatment program will of course find the underlying issues, but will use Life Skills Therapy to teach the person how to live life without drugs, as opposed to replacement drug therapy (the use of legal, prescription medication as a  crutch for someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol.) This type of drug rehab only leads to further dependency. 
 
Dependence on or addiction to prescription drugs (like Ambien, Methadone, Suboxone, etc.) is the inability—both physically and mentally—to discontinue the use of the drug as a direct result of the body’s build up of tolerance. The original dose progressively becomes less and less effective until eventually a higher dose or even a more powerful medication is required to prevent violent withdrawal symptoms from setting in. Because of this, many doctors will often “cross-prescribe” medications, and the addict will end up addicted to a slew of drugs in addiction to the ones he came into treatment for in the first place. 
 
Unfortunately for those who have been recipients of replacement drug therapy, the detox, treatment/recovery centers in North America equipped to handle the massive (and inevitable) withdrawal is limited. There are more centers readily available to provide replacement drug therapy than there are available to undo the mess made by such treatment. Withdrawal symptoms from prescription drugs (tranquilizers, sleeping pills, pain medications, etc.) can include panic attacks, hallucination, paranoia, dizziness, sweating, nightmares, intense heart palpitations, a “creeping” sensation on the skin, seizures and even death. These brooding withdrawal symptoms create the necessity of weeks or months to fully taper off of the medications. 
 
Hopefully this information will help you to see the detriment in replacement drug therapy. Seek out a program which will treat all the many facets of substance abuse without the hazardous use of replacement drug therapy.