Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who might not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their drug use and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.