Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who might not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.