Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who may not have been capable of being helped previously, finish drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive 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 should be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.