Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that may not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but will also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.