Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who might not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug 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 substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better understand what led to their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support along with continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.