Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that might not have been able to be helped previously, finish substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better know what led to their drug abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support and also further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.