Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that might not have been able to be helped in the past, finish substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.