Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may not have been able to be helped in the past, finish drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.