Dual diagnosis is 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 an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped before, put an end to drug or alcohol 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 led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.