Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, finish substance abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. 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 need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.