Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may not have been capable of being helped in the past, end drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.