Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.