Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that might possibly not have been able to be helped previously, stop substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have triggered and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support and also continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.