Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been able to be helped during the past, end substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.