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 who may possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support in addition to further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.