Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that might not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but could also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support and also continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.