Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.