Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes 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 drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality 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 caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.