Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may not have been able to be helped before, stop substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have triggered and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better understand what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.