Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might not have been able to be helped before, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis is often 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 that might include proper medical support as well as further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.