Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that might not have been capable of being helped before, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused 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 individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support and also further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.