Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help an individual who may not have been able to be helped before, finish drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.