Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that may not have been able to be helped during the past, finish drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.