Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that may possibly not have been able to be helped before, end drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.