Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who may not have been capable of being helped in the past, end drug or alcohol 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 led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.