Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been capable of being helped previously, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better understand what led to their substance abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support along with further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.