Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who might not have been able to be helped previously, end drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better understand what led to their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis can 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 can include appropriate medical support and also further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.