Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that may possibly not have been able to be helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.