Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support along with continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.