Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.