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 will help an individual who may possibly not have been capable of being helped before, stop substance abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.