Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may not have been capable of being helped in the past, finish drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.