Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who may possibly not have been capable of being helped during the past, end substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing 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 a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.