Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support and also continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.