Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that may possibly not have been able to be helped previously, end substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.