Test Your Knowledge

Preparing questions in advance can help patients have more meaningful discussions with their physicians regarding their conditions. Patients may wish to ask their doctor the following questions about substance abuse and mental illness:

1. What makes you think that I may have both a mental illness and a substance abuse problem?
   
   
2. How much experience do you have in treating people with both of my conditions?
   
   
3. What symptoms can I expect from my mental illness?
   
   
4. What symptoms can I expect from my substance abuse problem?
   
   
5. Can you suggest any effective programs in this community to treat both of my conditions together?
   
   
6. Given my conditions, how long is treatment likely to last?
   
   
7. Am I likely to experience substance withdrawal during treatment? How can I prevent or lessen the symptoms of withdrawal?
   
   
8. What medications, if any, will be used in my treatment program?
   
   
9. What forms of counseling may I expect to attend?
   
   
10. Can you suggest any support groups for people with my conditions?
    
    
11. Once both of my conditions are treated, how likely am I to relapse?
    
    
12. If a relapse occurs in one of my conditions, how likely is a relapse of the other?
    
    
13. How do you know that my symptoms are not just due to my substance abuse, but also indicate the presence of another mental disorder?