Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might possibly not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual must be medicated through out their lives either, and actually lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.