Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone that may not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better know what triggered their substance abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support as well as further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.