Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, finish substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.