Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support along with continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.