Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might not have been able to be helped previously, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support along with continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.