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 an individual who may not have been able to be helped in the past, put an end to substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted 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 could also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.