Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, end substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what led to their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support in addition to further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.