Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who might not have been able to be helped previously, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.