Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who might possibly not have been capable of being helped before, stop substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support in addition to further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.