Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that may not have been able to be helped in the past, end drug abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but can also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support along with continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.