Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that might not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better know what triggered their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.