Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but will also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support as well as further rehabilitation 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 people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.