Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might possibly not have been able to be helped previously, end drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better determine what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.