Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who might not have been able to be helped in the past, finish drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have triggered and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but will also help clients better determine what triggered their drug use and the way to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.