Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby 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 may not have been capable of being helped in the past, end drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately 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 truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but will also help clients better know what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.