Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that may not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.