Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better understand what triggered their substance abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.