Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that may not have been able to be helped before, put an end to drug abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.