Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.