Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.