Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may not have been capable of being helped in the past, end substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.