Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been able to be helped before, put an end to drug abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but will also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support and also further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.