Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, end substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better understand what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.