Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help an individual who may not have been able to be helped in the past, finish substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support and also further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.