Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.