Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that may possibly not have been able to be helped before, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support along with continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.