Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that might not have been able to be helped before, end drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but can also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.