Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might not have been capable of being helped in the past, finish drug abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.