Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped during the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.