Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who may not have been able to be helped before, put an end to drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better know what caused their drug use and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.