Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that may not have been able to be helped previously, put an end to drug abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.