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 might help a person that might not have been capable of being helped during the past, end drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support as well as further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.