Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.