Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who might not have been able to be helped previously, finish drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.