Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that might possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, stop substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.