Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better determine what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support and also continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.