Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling 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 an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support as well as further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.