Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who might not have been capable of being helped during the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better understand what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support and also continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.