Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may possibly not have been capable of being helped before, stop drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.