Adolescents with dual diagnosis and admitted to either a general or dual diagnosis acute care psychiatric program were matched ex post facto according to sex, age, diagnosis, and ethnicity. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted to evaluate differences in therapeutic goal attainment based on the two programs, while controlling for length of stay in the hospital programs. Adolescents with dual diagnosis had significantly higher scores in coping skills in the general psychiatric program than in the dual diagnosis program. Implications of the findings are discussed.