We present a study of the attenuation length in a one-dimensional array of alternating left- and right-handed materials in which both the permittivities and the permeabilities are disordered. This type of structure has been shown to present an anomaly in the attenuation length when only permeabilities are disordered. We derive a simple analytical expression of the attenuation length, when the disorder in the refraction index is due to perturbations in both the permeability and the permittivity. Our expression is able to explain the transition to the anomalous behavior when perturbation only in the permeability or only in the permittivity is considered. Besides, we show that the anomaly is dramatically affected when considering perturbations in permeability and permittivity. The coupling effects are able to restore the ordinary localization length. © 2012 American Physical Society.