Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that may not have been able to be helped before, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support and also continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.