Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, finish drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further 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 people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.