Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better understand what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support as well as further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.