Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who may not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly 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 how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.