Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might not have been able to be helped before, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.