Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may not have been able to be helped in the past, end drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better understand what led to their substance abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.