Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that may not have been able to be helped before, put an end to substance abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better know what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.