Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support along with continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.