Dual diagnosis can be 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 may help an individual who might not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.