Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may not have been capable of being helped previously, put an end to substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what triggered their drug use and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person should be medicated through out their lives either, and actually a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.