Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might not have been capable of being helped previously, end drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.