Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that might possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, end substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.