Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may not have been capable of being helped previously, stop substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.