Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being properly 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 fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.