Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may not have been able to be helped in the past, put an end to drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better know what caused their drug use and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.