Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might not have been capable of being helped previously, end substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.