Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped during the past, end substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but can also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.