Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use 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 who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person should be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.