Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that might possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, end substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.