Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help an individual who might not have been able to be helped during the past, end substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support along with continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.