Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might possibly not have been capable of being helped before, stop drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.