Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, 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 able to be helped before, finish drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better know what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.