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 that may not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.