Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that might not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better understand what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.