Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may possibly not have been capable of being helped during the past, put an end to drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.