Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may not have been able to be helped before, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.