Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that may not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.