Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.