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 can help someone who may not have been able to be helped previously, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.