Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been capable of being helped previously, end substance abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.