Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.