Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help an individual who may not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have triggered and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.