Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that may possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, stop substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have triggered and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support and also continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.