Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may not have been able to be helped in the past, finish substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support as well as further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.