Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.