Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their drug use and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support and also continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.