Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often 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 before, stop drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.