Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may not have been able to be helped before, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support along with further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.