Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may possibly not have been capable of being helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact 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 how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support and also continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.