Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis might 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 an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.