Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, finish substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.