Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who might possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, end substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.