Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help an individual who may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.