Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.