Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that might not have been able to be helped in the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better understand what led to their substance abuse and the way to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support along with further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.