Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped before, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support and also further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.