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 might help an individual who may not have been able to be helped in the past, finish substance abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and the way 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 might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.