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 will help an individual who might possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, end drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support and also continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.