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 can help someone that might not have been able to be helped before, put an end to substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support and also continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.