Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, finish drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.