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 can help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, end substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.