Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who may possibly not have been capable of being helped before, finish substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.