Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, finish drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.