Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that may not have been able to be helped previously, put an end to substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their drug use and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.