Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better understand what led to their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support and also further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.