Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who might possibly not have been capable of being helped before, stop drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support along with further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.