Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to drug abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an 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 may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.