Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may not have been able to be helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and actually a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.