Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.