Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might possibly not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual must be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.