Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that might not have been able to be helped previously, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.