Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who might possibly not have been able to be helped before, put an end to drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support in addition to further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.