Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who may not have been able to be helped before, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly 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 could also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support and also further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.