Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that may not have been able to be helped before, put an end to drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better understand what led to their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.