Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that might not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support and also continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.