Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who may not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support and also further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.