Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that may not have been able to be helped in the past, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.