Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may not have been able to be helped previously, stop substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support as well as further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.