Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped before, finish drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better know what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.