Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, end drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.