Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better know what led to their drug use and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.