Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who may not have been able to be helped before, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support and also continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.