Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that may possibly not have been able to be helped before, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better determine what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.