Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support as well as further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.