Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who might not have been capable of being helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support along with further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.