Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, end substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better understand what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support along with further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.