Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that might possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, stop substance abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.