Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may not have been able to be helped in the past, end drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better determine what triggered their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support as well as further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.