Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.