Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that might not have been able to be helped before, finish drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.