Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might possibly not have been able to be helped previously, end substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.