Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might not have been capable of being helped before, finish drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.