Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.