Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, end drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but will also help clients better know what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis may be 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 a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.