Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who might not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact 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 caused their drug abuse and the way to prevent it later on. 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 a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.