Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who might not have been able to be helped before, end substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.