Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might not have been capable of being helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.