Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help an individual who might possibly not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support along with continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.