Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who may not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.