Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that might possibly not have been able to be helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better understand what led to their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.