Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that may not have been able to be helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better understand what triggered their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support along with further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.