Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped previously, stop substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have triggered and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but may also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.