Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that might not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better determine what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.