Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might possibly not have been able to be helped before, end drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.