Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who might not have been capable of being helped before, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better know what led to their drug use and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.