Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who might possibly not have been capable of being helped before, finish drug abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.