Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped before, stop substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.