Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that may not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support and also further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.