Adolescent Dual Diagnosis focuses on the co-occurrence of substance use with depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma-related syndromes, emerging bipolarity, or psychosis during the second decade of life. This page translates evidence into practical care: building timelines that separate substance-induced symptoms from primary disorders; choosing psychosocial sequences before, during, and after pharmacotherapy; and creating family-centred plans that protect safety while preserving autonomy. If you’re comparing events like an adolescent psychiatry conference, you’ll find guidance on developmental assessment, motivational engagement, and collaborative care with schools and paediatrics. Because relapse risk is tightly linked to environment, we emphasise school accommodations, peer dynamics, online behaviour, and social determinants—housing stability, family stress, and access barriers—that shape outcomes as much as medication choices.

Treatment is staged and integrated. Early phases prioritise safety, sleep, and withdrawal/overdose prevention while establishing trust with teens and caregivers. Psychotherapy blends motivational interviewing with family-based approaches and CBT skills; trauma work is phased after stabilization. Pharmacotherapy respects growth, cardiovascular risk, and interaction profiles with MOUD/AUD options when indicated; long-acting or abuse-deterrent formulations are preferred where diversion risk is high. Coordination is essential: emergency departments, inpatient units, PHP/IOP, and community clinics must share plans, labs, and crisis pathways to prevent drop-off. For dosing, cross-tapering, and medication safety across developmental stages, see Pediatric Psychopharmacology; it complements this page’s focus on family systems, school partnership, and stepped-care pathways that keep adolescents engaged.