Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who might not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.