Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped previously, stop substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.