Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may not have been able to be helped during the past, finish drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted 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 course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support and also further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.