Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who might possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.