Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, end substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better determine what triggered their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.