Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but could also help clients better know what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.