Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better determine what triggered their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support as well as further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.