Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that may possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better know what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support and also further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.