Dual diagnosis is a circumstance 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 can help an individual who might not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better know what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support and also further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.