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 can help someone who might not have been able to be helped during the past, finish substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better understand what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.