Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who might possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support and also further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.