Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.