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 will help someone who might not have been capable of being helped during the past, finish substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but can also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support along with continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.