Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been able to be helped previously, finish drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.