Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may not have been able to be helped before, put an end to substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support as well as further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.