Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that may not have been able to be helped before, end substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.