Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that may not have been capable of being helped during the past, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have 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 people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.