Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better determine what triggered their drug use and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.