Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that may possibly not have been able to be helped previously, stop substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.