Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.