Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may not have been capable of being helped before, finish substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better know what triggered their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.