Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who might possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but may also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.