Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that might possibly not have been able to be helped before, end drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.