Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may not have been capable of being helped during the past, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support and also further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.