Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might not have been capable of being helped before, stop drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have triggered and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better understand what triggered their drug use and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.