Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped previously, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact 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 foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.