Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that might not have been capable of being helped previously, end drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.