Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that may not have been capable of being helped previously, put an end to substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.