Dual diagnosis is 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 a person that might not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but could also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support along with further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.