Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that may not have been able to be helped in the past, put an end to substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support and also further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.