Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a 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 along with continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.