Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better know what triggered their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis might be 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 may include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.