Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who may possibly not have been capable of being helped during the past, end drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.