Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might not have been able to be helped during the past, finish drug abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.