Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may possibly not have been able to be helped previously, stop substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support and also continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.