Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who might not have been capable of being helped previously, end substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.