Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may not have been able to be helped before, end substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better understand what triggered their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.