Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but will also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person should be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.