Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might possibly not have been capable of being helped during the past, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have triggered and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support along with further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.