Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.