Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that may not have been able to be helped previously, end drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.