Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that may not have been capable of being helped during the past, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the reality that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but may also help clients better understand what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support along with further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.