Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.