Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may possibly not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.