Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better determine what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.