Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, end substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.