Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.