Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who might possibly not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in 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 may also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.