Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but will also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support as well as further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.