Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may not have been capable of being helped in the past, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.