Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.