Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby 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 may not have been able to be helped during the past, finish drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.