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 can help someone who might possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, finish substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but can also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.