Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that might not have been able to be helped previously, end substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support as well as further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.