Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may not have been capable of being helped during the past, stop substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but will also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.