Dual diagnosis can be 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 someone who may not have been capable of being helped in the past, finish substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but will also help clients better determine what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.