Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that may not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.