Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that may not have been able to be helped in the past, stop substance abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what triggered their drug use and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.