Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby 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 might possibly not have been able to be helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.