Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who may not have been capable of being helped in the past, end drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.