Dual diagnosis is 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 will help a person that may possibly not have been able to be helped previously, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.