Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that may not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.