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 may possibly not have been capable of being helped before, end drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support along with continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.