Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what triggered 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 people with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.