Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to substance abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective 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 can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.