PERRYSBURG – Thirty-seven percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers have at
least one serious mental illness. "Co-occurring disorders" is the term that describes this
double burden. Individuals with this dual diagnosis are less likely to use their prescribed medication
and more susceptible to homelessness or incarceration. Co-occurring disorders make life difficult not
only for those diagnosed but also for their families and communities.That’s why NAMI Wood County
(National Alliance on Mental Illness) is devoting its Dec. 13 "Mental Health 101" program to
dual diagnosis. The program is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the BGSU Levis Commons site.The seminar costs
$40 per participant, including lunch. Continuing education units will be available for all attendees.
Call NAMI Wood County at 419-352-0626 to register.Local mental health clinicians, health care
professionals, and academics will present information that will expand attendees’ knowledge of assessing
and treating dual diagnosis, the DSM-V’s (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for psychiatrists)
definition of dual diagnosis, and dual diagnosis of adolescentsPresenters include Harold Rosenberg,
Ph.D., clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Bowling Green State University; Francesca
Leass, MSSA, LISW-S program coordinator at the Children’s Resource Center; Connie Cameron, RN, MSN, CNS,
advanced practice psychiatric nurse at Family Services of Northwest Ohio; Dr. Jay Stewart, vocational
specialist at Stress Care Behavioral Health; Laura Feeney, LISW, adult and adolescent clinician at
Behavioral Connections of Wood County; and D. Scott Acus, MA, MSW, LISW-S LICDC-CS, manager of
outpatient services at Behavioral Connections of Wood County.