Dual diagnosis is 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 may help an individual who may not have been capable of being helped before, stop substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support as well as further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.