Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.