Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that might not have been able to be helped previously, stop substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support and also further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.