Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that may not have been capable of being helped during the past, end substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better know what led to their drug use and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.