Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, end drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have prompted and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply 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 later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support as well as further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.