Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, stop substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.