Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support and also further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.