Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might possibly not have been able to be helped before, stop substance abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.