Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which 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 in the past, put an end to substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support and also further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.