Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might not have been capable of being helped in the past, end substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.