Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have triggered and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. 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 take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support as well as further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.