Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, finish drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.