Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped before, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.