Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been able to be helped previously, end substance 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 substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also continued rehab 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 actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.