Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that might not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.