Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that may possibly not have been able to be helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support as well as further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.