Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that might not have been capable of being helped previously, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.