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 might help someone who might possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support and also continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.