Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) is a twelve-step program much like Alcoholics Anonymous. DTR’s purpose is to provide a program that not only recognizes a person as having with a mental illness, but addresses the fact that people with substance abuse issues may have another illness as well.



Within DTR support groups, a person may address more than one challenge or problem that is occurring on their recovery journey. This means that DTR support group participants can  tackle and work on both illnesses (the mental illness and the substance abuse) at the same time.



Traditional twelve-step programs may not meet the needs of a person who has a dual diagnosis. Many DTR consumers use both DTR and another twelve-step program to get the sufficient help they need to lead a healthy lifestyle.



There are no fees or dues within DTR. Each support group is self-supporting. They do take and use contributions. Supporting materials are available for purchase, either during meetings or online. Posters and pamphlets are freely available on the website to help people begin and market DTR support groups.  There are posters and pamphlets of the twelve DTR traditions and the twelve DTR steps that are available for purchase and download online.



Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) members are encouraged to remain anonymous to provide confidentiality and a comfort zone in which everyone feels safe to open up and share. What is said in the group, stays in the group.



DTR provides an open floor for sharing and encourages participants to offer each other ideas, ask questions and speak freely. Helping each other when there is a setback, and being there to share in the happiness when a goal has been met, is vital to the success of DTR support groups. In a DTR support group the group can help you figure out the triggers to relapses, and ways to avoid or face the situation in order to prevent future relapses.



Friends and family are great people to have in your support system, but they may not be able to relate or understand what you are going through, no matter how much they care and want to provide support. DTR gives you a group of peers who have an understanding of what your situations may be like, or what you are going through.