Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who might not have been able to be helped in the past, end drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but could also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.