Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better know what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.