Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been able to be helped before, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support along with further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.