Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may not have been capable of being helped during the past, end substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and actually a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.