Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support and also continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.