Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help an individual who might not have been able to be helped during the past, stop substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.