Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might not have been capable of being helped previously, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual must be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.