Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may not have been able to be helped before, stop substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.